21 January, 2020

The Centre for Advanced Photonics and Process Analysis (CAPPA) at Cork Institute of Technology has launched its new EU-funded OPTAPHI project worth over €3.8 million.

The OPTAPHI project is a European joint doctorate programme funded under the EU’s Horizon 2020 research programme, as part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

The project will bring over €1M funding to CIT, the largest amount a single EU H2020 project has been awarded to date. This brings the total amount of funding CAPPA has obtained in the past 5 years to over €10M.

The consortium includes Cork Institute of Technology as coordinator, Politecnico di Bari (Italy), University of Bari Aldo Moro (Italy), Vienna University of Technology (Austria) and University of Montpellier (France).

Pictured at the OPTAPHI project inaugural meeting, L-R: Dr Laurent Cerrutti (U. Montpellier), Prof Vincenzo Spagnolo (U. Bari), Prof. Dr. Bernhard Lendl (TU Wien), Dr. Barry O’Connor (President, CIT), Dr Liam O’Faolain (CIT, project coordinator), Dr David Williams (CIT), Dr Marco Grande (Politecnico Bari).

During the project, 14 early-stage researchers will undertake a doctoral programme, eight of whom will be registered at CIT, and the project represents four new partnerships for formal double degree awards with European academic institutions.

Dr Liam O’Faolain, OPTAPHI project coordinator said, “We are delighted to have received funding for the OPTAPHI project which will enable us to work with eight new students and develop advanced optical sensors focusing on applications in a variety of areas”.

The network was officially launched by CIT President, Dr. Barry O’Connor, who said, “There will be great potential within this consortium to form the nucleus of a European University, a project strongly supported by the EU Commission and by many governments across Europe aimed at enhancing European”.

OPTAPHI is a European Double Doctorate Programme on “Optical sensing using advanced photo-induced effects”, involving five partner institutions across Europe.

The training from leading research groups will be complemented by secondment opportunities offered by ten associated Partner Organisations, together with network-wide training events such as workshops and a summer school.

The photonics sector underpins all aspects of modern society, including optical telecommunications, biophotonics, medical devices and materials processing. In Europe, sensing is the largest photonics-based application.

The OPTAPHI students will develop advanced optical sensors focusing on applications in the areas of Environmental Sensing, Agri-Food Analysis and Industrial Process Monitoring. OPTAPHI will demonstrate compact sensors that can be used in unmanned aerial vehicles for environment sensing, as low-cost sensors for food monitoring and in industrial Process Analytical Technology.

Applications for the OPTAPHI PhD positions will open shortly. You can find more information on the OPTAPHI website: www.optaphi.eu