Summary
- Profile Type
- Research & Development Request
- POD Reference
- RDRGR20260722020
- Term of Validity
- 22 July 2026 - 22 July 2027
- Company's Country
- Greece
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
General information
- Short Summary
- A Greek SME-led consortium is preparing a proposal under Eurostars 3 Call 11. The project aims to develop durable, non-leaching antimicrobial coatings for filtration media and high-touch surfaces. One industrial end-user is sought, preferably a manufacturer of air or water filtration products or equipment incorporating high-touch surfaces, to complete the consortium.
- Full Description
-
A Greek SME specialising in the design, development and manufacturing of specialty materials and surface coatings is coordinating an international consortium preparing a proposal under Eurostars 3 Call 11. The project aims to develop durable, non-leaching antimicrobial coatings for filtration media and high-touch surfaces.
Conventional antimicrobial surface treatments may lose effectiveness within one to three months of normal cleaning and use. The project targets sustained antimicrobial action for 6–12 months through three technological routes: a contact-killing coating based on quaternary ammonium silanes, doped titania photocatalysts active under normal indoor visible light and a novel hybrid bilayer combining both mechanisms. The project aims to produce two tangible prototypes. The first will involve an antimicrobial coating formulation applied to surfaces and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning filter media, tested for self-disinfection capacity and air-purification performance in relevant operational environments. The second will be a modular point-of-use water dispensing and disinfection system, validated for high-sterility filtered water in laboratory and healthcare settings.
The existing consortium includes a Greek SME responsible for coating chemistry and scale-up, a Greek research organisation with expertise in visible-light photocatalysts and advanced materials characterisation, and a German SME specialising in engineering, prototyping and accredited testing.
One industrial end-user is sought, preferably a manufacturer active in air or water filtration or a manufacturer of equipment with high-touch surfaces. The partner will participate in the validation of one or both prototypes and is expected to lead commercial exploitation. Cooperation is foreseen under a research and development cooperation agreement. Expressions of interest are welcomed until 20 August 2026. - Advantages and Innovations
-
The project combines three complementary coating approaches to achieve durable antimicrobial performance under real operating conditions. It targets sustained antimicrobial action for 6–12 months, compared with the one-to-three-month effectiveness of many conventional antimicrobial surface treatments.
The contact-killing coating forms a covalently anchored, non-leaching three-dimensional nanostructure, enabling adhesion to metals, glass, ceramics, plastics and fibrous media. The second technological route uses doped titania photocatalysts that operate under normal indoor visible light, while the hybrid bilayer combines both antimicrobial mechanisms, enhancing antimicrobial performance and durability.
The developed solutions target at least a 3-log reduction against bacteria, fungi, yeasts, algae and viruses. They are designed to be non-adaptive, free from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, non-leaching and skin-safe. The coatings can cure under ambient conditions without ultraviolet light or heat and may be applied through practical methods such as wiping, dipping, washing or spraying.
Performance and durability will be verified in accredited laboratories within the consortium according to ISO 22196, ISO 21702, ISO 20743 and ASTM D4060. - Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
-
The consortium is looking for one industrial end-user from a Eurostars participating country, preferably an SME or a larger company with relevant product development, manufacturing or validation capabilities.
More specifically, suitable partners may include:
Air filtration product manufacturers, such as manufacturers of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning filters, filter elements, air-handling equipment or air-purification units for hospitals, laboratories, cleanrooms, buildings or transport.
Water filtration product manufacturers, such as manufacturers of point-of-use filters, cartridges, ceramic or polymeric membranes, water dispensers or medical and laboratory water systems.
Manufacturers of equipment incorporating high-touch surfaces, including hospital furniture and fittings, medical device housings, touch panels, screens or interior components used in public or hygiene-sensitive environments.
Professional end-users, such as hospital groups, hygiene service providers or facility-management organisations, may also be considered where they have the capacity to host validation activities under real operating conditions.
The ideal partner should have access to representative substrates, filter media, components or equipment and should be interested in integrating the developed coating into a specific product and supporting its subsequent commercial exploitation. - Stage of Development
- Under development
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
- IPR status
- IPR granted
- IPR notes
- The contact-killing coating and visible-light photocatalytic technologies are supported by existing patents. Access to the technologies and any co-development or co-exploitation rights will be agreed between the consortium partners before proposal submission.
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
The selected partner will act as the industrial end-user for one or both of the proposed prototypes. It will help define the target product, its technical specifications and the requirements for integrating the coating into the relevant product or production process.
The partner will provide representative substrates, filter media, components or equipment for coating application and testing. It will also support validation under real operating conditions, providing feedback on performance, durability, usability and compatibility with existing manufacturing or operational requirements.
Depending on its field of activity, the partner may contribute to the validation of the coated filtration media and surfaces, the modular point-of-use water dispensing and disinfection system, or both prototypes.
As the industrial end-user, the partner is expected to lead the commercial exploitation of the relevant results and support their introduction into the target market. Any arrangements concerning co-development, access to the patented technologies and co-exploitation rights will be agreed among the consortium partners before proposal submission. - Type and Size of Partner
- SME 11-49
- SME 50 - 249
- SME <=10
- Other
- Big company
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Call details
- Framework program
- Eureka
- Call title and identifier
-
Eurostars 3 Call 11
- Anticipated project budget
-
EUR 0.7–0.9 mil for 4 partners
- Coordinator required
-
No
- Deadline for EoI
- Deadline of the call
- Project duration in weeks
-
156
- Web link to the call
- https://www.eurekanetwork.org/programmes-and-calls/eurostars/eurostars-call-for-projects-september-2026/
- Project title and acronym
-
SWIFT – Surface-Wide Infection-Fighting Technology
- Eureka
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 02002002 - Coatings
- 010002009 - Water Pollution / Treatment
- 02007001 - Adhesives
- 010002001 - Air Pollution/Treatment
- 02003002 - Manufacturing plants networks
- Market keywords
- 09007002 - Manufacture of construction materials, components and systems
- 08004003 - Water treatment equipment and waste disposal systems
- 08001007 - Coatings and adhesives manufactures
- 09004008 - Other manufacturing (not elsewhere classified)
- 08004001 - Air filters and air purification and monitoring equipment
- Sector Groups Involved
- Energy-Intensive Industries - BioChemTech
- Energy-Intensive Industries - Materials
- Health
- Targeted countries
- All countries