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Hellenic Research Department Seeks Turkish Partners Bilateral R&D Proposal in Advanced Materials.

Summary

Profile Type
  • Research & Development Request
POD Reference
RDRGR20250718013
Term of Validity
18 July 2025 - 18 July 2026
Company's Country
  • Greece
Type of partnership
  • Research and development cooperation agreement
Targeted Countries
  • Turkey
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General information

Short Summary
Cross-border partnerships are being sought by a leading Hellenic research department for the submission of a bilateral call focused on R&D and innovation projects. Potential Turkish partners with proven expertise in Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOF) synthesis within research, academia, or industry are encouraged to participate. Additionally, corporations or industries experienced in the manufacturing of solar thermal systems and device engineering, including design and manufacturing, are invited.
Full Description
This project addresses the challenge of water scarcity by developing advanced atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) technology using heliothermic regeneration. The research falls within the scientific field of advanced materials and utilizes innovative approaches such as Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), salt composite sorbents, and solar thermal energy to capture water vapor from ambient air at low relative humidity.
AWH offers a promising decentralized solution for extracting moisture directly from the atmosphere without relying on energy-intensive condensation methods. Unlike traditional techniques that can consume up to 27.8 kW per kilogram of water produced, this project applies sorption-based methods—passive or solar-assisted—to significantly reduce energy requirements, even in dry conditions.
MOFs and salt composite sorbents are central to this approach. For example, MOF-303 has demonstrated the ability to harvest around 0.7 liters of water per kilogram of sorbent at 10% relative humidity using only solar heat. Further advances have increased yields to 2.8 liters per kilogram daily at over 20% humidity through energy-neutral cycling. Additional prototypes using nanocomposites like Bamboo-Derived Hierarchically Nanoporous Carbon (BHNC) have reached up to 2.82 liters per kilogram per day under solar irradiation.
Thermodynamic analysis highlights the importance of the “water–energy nexus,” where hybrid systems combining passive adsorption with solar or waste heat regeneration can operate efficiently across diverse climates with minimal energy input. Achieving consistent all-weather performance remains a key goal, supported by recent materials capable of rapid water uptake and high release rates under solar illumination.
This project seeks highly qualified partners across three complementary areas to co-develop, integrate, and validate cutting-edge atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) technologies based on solar-assisted and sorption principles. The programme will be submitted under the TÜBİTAK – General Secretariat for Research and Innovation of Greece (GSRI) Bilateral Cooperation Call 2520. The Expression of Interest deadline is 8 August 2025, with the final call submission deadline on 22 September 2025. The project duration is twenty-four months from the date of notification of the decision approving the evaluation results, with a possibility of extension by six months; this corresponds to approximately 104 weeks in total.
Expertise required in device engineering and prototyping includes system design, mechanical prototyping, thermal-fluidic engineering, and IoT-based environmental monitoring. Capabilities should cover CAD design of compact AWH units, materials selection for outdoor durability, fluid handling system engineering, instrumentation and control integration, and pilot field deployment experience. Ideal partners for this domain are environmental device manufacturers, mechanical design companies, or applied engineering research laboratories.
In the field of solar thermal systems and energy integration, expertise is sought in the design and implementation of solar thermal collectors, thermal storage, and energy-efficient heating systems tailored for low-grade heat applications. Partners should have capabilities in engineering solar panels operating between 40 and 80°C, integrating hybrid passive-active thermal devices, compact thermal energy storage solutions, and performing thermal simulations using tools such as COMSOL or TRNSYS. Ideal collaborators include solar technology firms, clean-tech developers, or energy engineering departments.
For Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) synthesis and engineering, the project requires partners with expertise in the synthesis, functionalization, optimization, and scale-up of MOFs for water sorption under low humidity conditions. Essential capabilities include producing high-capacity MOFs like MOF-303 or MOF-801, enhancing hydrophilicity and regeneration efficiency.
Advantages and Innovations
This project offers a transformative approach to decentralized Atmospheric Water Harvesting (AWH) by integrating advanced sorbent materials, solar thermal energy, and compact device engineering. Unlike conventional condensation methods that require high energy input, the proposed system utilizes Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and salt composites capable of capturing water even at low relative humidity (RH < 20%), with regeneration driven solely by low-grade solar heat. This enables energy-neutral operation, making the technology ideal for off-grid, arid, or resource-scarce environments. Recent breakthroughs in MOF-hydrogel and nanocomposite systems further enhance water uptake, cycling speed, and material durability. The device design emphasizes thermal efficiency, compactness, and scalability—achieving water yields up to 2.8 liters per kilogram of sorbent per day under realistic conditions. By aligning with the water–energy nexus and requiring no external power or large infrastructure, the solution supports EU Green Deal goals, reduces carbon and plastic footprints, and opens new pathways for sustainable water access in vulnerable regions.
Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
The project seeks highly specialized partners across three distinct but complementary domains of expertise to co-develop, integrate, and validate novel technologies for decentralized Atmospheric Water Harvesting (AWH) using solar-assisted and sorption-based systems.
1. Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) Synthesis and Engineering – Advanced Functional Materials Required Expertise: Partners from academia, R&D institutes, or innovation-led SMEs with deep expertise in the synthesis, functionalization, and performance optimization of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for water sorption applications.
Technical Capabilities:
• Proven experience in synthesis of high-capacity Metal-Organic Frameworks MOFs (e.g., MOF-303, MOF-801, MOF-841) optimized for water uptake under low RH (<30%).
• Functionalization of MOF structures to enhance hydrophilicity, regeneration efficiency, and structural stability under cycling.
• Advanced characterization methods (e.g., BET, XRD, TGA, SEM, DRIFTS) for surface area, porosity, thermal stability, and sorption kinetics.
• Ability to scale up Metal-Organic Frameworks MOF production and transition from lab-scale powder synthesis to structured sorbent forms (e.g., pellets, monoliths, films).
• Optional: Knowledge of composite Metal-Organic Frameworks MOF-hydrogel or Metal-Organic Frameworks MOF-biopolymer integration.
Ideal Partner Examples: University materials science departments, nanomaterials research centres, or SME developers of high-performance MOFs.

2. Solar Thermal Systems and Energy Integration – Sustainable Heat Management Required Expertise: Technology developers or companies experienced in the design, prototyping, and deployment of solar thermal collectors, thermal storage systems, and energy-efficient heating integration for low-grade heat applications.
Technical Capabilities:
• Design and engineering of solar thermal panels tailored for low-to-medium temperature ranges (40–80oC), suitable for sorbent regeneration.
• Integration of solar-thermal systems into hybrid passive-active devices, including thermal insulation and heat-exchanger optimization.
• Expertise in compact thermal energy storage (e.g., phase change materials, sensible heat storage) for maintaining 24h cycle operation.
• Thermal simulation (e.g., COMSOL, TRNSYS) to model energy transfer within the AWH system under varying environmental conditions.
Ideal Partner Examples: Solar tech SMEs, clean-tech R&D firms, or energy engineering departments at technical universities.

3. Device Engineering and Prototyping – Design, Fabrication, and Field Readiness Required Expertise: Industrial or academic partners with advanced skills in system-level product engineering, thermal-fluidic design, mechanical prototyping, and IoT-enabled monitoring of environmental devices.
Technical Capabilities:
• CAD-based mechanical design and fabrication of compact Atmospheric Water Harvesting AWH units integrating sorbent beds and thermal collectors.
• Proficiency in materials selection for optimized performance under outdoor conditions (UV resistance, corrosion, thermal stability).
• Engineering of fluid handling subsystems: condensate collection, airflow optimization, passive ventilation vs. fan-assisted cycling.
• Instrumentation and control (e.g., temperature, humidity, solar irradiance sensors; microcontroller integration for testing).
• Optional: Field pilot deployment expertise for testing under varied RH/climatic conditions (Mediterranean, arid, or semi-arid zones).
Ideal Partner Examples: Environmental device manufacturers, mechanical design firms, or applied engineering research labs.
Stage of Development
  • Concept stage
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
IPR status
  • No IPR applied

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner
• The consortium is actively seeking Turkish partners from research, academia, industry, and the water sector with specialized expertise relevant to the development and deployment of decentralized Atmospheric Water Harvesting (AWH) systems. Ideal partners include:
• Research institutions or university labs focused on advanced materials, MOFs, sorbents, or environmental science.
• SMEs or large enterprises experienced in solar thermal technologies and renewable energy integration.
• Engineering or technology firms skilled in environmental device prototyping and field deployment.
• Water utilities or water technology companies with an interest in non-traditional water sources, decentralized supply models, or infrastructure for smart water solutions.
• Multidisciplinary organizations capable of integrating materials science, clean energy, and device engineering for climate-resilient water technologies.
• Water-sector partners should have operational or commercial interests in off-grid water production, smart infrastructure, or technology validation under real-world conditions, especially in semi-arid, rural, or island settings where centralized supply is limited.
• All partners must be eligible under the TÜBİTAK–GSRI bilateral call and should demonstrate the infrastructure, personnel, and commitment for joint research and development.

Each partner is expected to contribute actively to the design, development, and validation of a fully integrated Atmospheric Water Harvesting AWH system:
• Metal-Organic Frameworks MOF-focused R&D partners will lead the development of next-generation sorbents with high uptake and efficient regeneration at low RH.
• Solar energy partners will design and optimize the solar thermal subsystem and energy integration strategies.
• Engineering firms will prototype and refine Atmospheric Water Harvesting AWH devices for field testing, including mechanical design, condensation units, and monitoring.
• Water companies or utilities will:
o Provide real-world pilot sites and operational expertise for field validation.
o Contribute to impact assessment, including water quality, daily yield, and community acceptance.
o Assist in technology adaptation for remote, off-grid, or emergency-response scenarios.
o Potentially support pathways to commercialization or public-sector procurement.
All partners will participate in knowledge sharing, joint publications, dissemination activities, and potential future commercialization under a research and development cooperation agreement.
Type and Size of Partner
  • Big company
  • R&D Institution
  • SME <=10
  • SME 50 - 249
  • University
Type of partnership
  • Research and development cooperation agreement

Call details

Framework program
  • Access to finance
Call title and identifier
2520 TÜBİTAK – General Secretariat for Research and Innovation of Greece (GSRI) Bilateral Cooperation Call
Coordinator required
No
Deadline for EoI
Deadline of the call
Project duration in weeks
104
Web link to the call
https://tubitak.gov.tr/en/announcement/2520-tubitak-general-secretariat-research-and-innovation-greece-gsri-bilateral-cooperation-call-open-application
Project title and acronym
2520 TÜBİTAK – General Secretariat for Research and Innovation of Greece (GSRI) Bilateral Cooperation Call

Dissemination

Market keywords
  • 06003001 - Solar/thermal energy
Sector Groups Involved
  • Energy-Intensive Industries
Targeted countries
  • Turkey