Luxembourg’s Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) this month signed a cooperation agreement with the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), recognised as one of the best research institutes in Belgium, uniting the two institutions’ endeavours in life and environmental sciences and technologies as well as in data processing, modelling and visualisation and deepening a collaboration that began almost 30 years ago.
The agreement provides for the exchange of research staff, preparation of joint publications, summer courses, as well as onsite visits and access to the premises of each respective Partner, adding to the body of work already jointly established by the two institutions.
Dr Lucien Hoffmann, director at the ERIN department, hailed the agreement as an important step in the relationship between them.
"We do not start from scratch," he said, "since many projects have already been jointly carried out by our researchers, for example the energy recovery of biomass, or the understanding of the mechanisms implemented in the formation of the plant wall, to name but a few examples,” he said.
A theme has already been explored for collaboration, namely the development of new applications for plant fibres whose use has until recently been confined to textiles and paper. By studying how the fibre develops in the plant and by seeking to improve its properties, LIST and UCL researchers are developing new fertilisation techniques involving the use of natural compounds such as silicon.
These innovative strategies will make it possible to obtain new fibres, which are at the same time more flexible, lighter and more resistant, with a multitude of potential applications across construction, plastics, thermal and acoustic insulation. According to LIST, work on this project will be facilitated and deepened thanks to the new LIST-UCL convention.
The signing of this agreement, in the presence of Michel Maquil, President of the Luxembourg Association of Friends of the Foundation of Louvain (ALAF), stands as evidence of the excellent work carried out at LIST.
