Development of innovative technologies through contracts with the private and public sector

• Development of novel antibacterials
  
  The Protein Secretion Research Group - T. Economou Laboratory (Unicellular Organisms Group) is studying the molecular mechanism of membrane biogenesis and protein trafficking of the bacterial secretome/membranome and combines expertise in molecular membrane biology, protein purification, enzymology and biophysics, for various biotechnological applications, including the development of novel Antibacterials, biopharmaceuticals, protein and membrane-based biosensors, etc.
  
  The research group’s unique expertise, led to the establishment of a close collaboration with the major pharmaceutical industry Pfizer Inc. (Groton, USA) in the development of novel Sec antibacterials. The Sec protein export pathway is a ubiquitous and essential-throughout-life protein export pathway, involved in protein trafficking of the bacterial secretome/membranome.
  
  In the context of its collaboration with Pfizer the Laboratory has up to now:
  
  
  • provided know-how for the development of a high-throughput screening assay for inhibitors of bacterial proteins.
  • developed and supplied to Pfizer, a model antibacterial protein molecule, allowing the application of molecular modelling approaches for target identification.



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• Development of Flexible Photovoltaic Cells
  
  Following preliminary contacts a research contract was signed between the US company Konarka Technologies (Lowell, MA) and the group of Dr V. Gregoriou concerning the “Development of Flexible Photovoltaic Cells". The agreement was initially set for 2 years and the total budget was in the range of $200.000. The specific research team had developed significant know-how in the specific field together with the groups of prof. I. Kallitsis and prof. P. Yianoulis (Univ. of Patras).
  



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• A two-phase flow simulator for understanding droplet formation at ink-jet nozzles
  
  The collaboration between FORTH/ICE-HT and SEIKO EPSON started in 1997 and concerned the application of a two-phase flow simulator developed at FORTH/ICE-HT to the understanding of droplet formation at ink-jet nozzles. Progressively, this initial exploratory project turned to a contract aiming at the detailed simulation of the dynamic operation of an ink-jet head and underlying hydrodynamics. In 2002, a major extension of the collaboration was decided and addressed phenomena of critical significance for the fabrication of all-polymer ink-jet printed transistors.
  
  Recently, a fourth project was launched between the two organizations in related problems. Cumulatively, SEIKO EPSON has invested more than 50 million yen in this collaboration, which was implemented by the research teams of Dr. V. Burganos and Prof. A. Payatakes.