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Inventions of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy in Belgrade pave the way for market entry through TTF Programme

The Innovation Fund has signed three agreements with the University of Belgrade on providing support in commercialisation within the Technology Transfer Facility (TTF). Three innovative development projects of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade have received financial support of RSD 5.3 million in total. The supported projects include the development of multifunctional colour catcher balls, a prototype of the instrument for measuring thermal conductivity of multicomponent liquid mixtures and a prototype of ergonomically adapted chairs for crane cabins.

The agreements were signed on behalf of the Belgrade University by Professor Vladimir Bumbaširević, PhD, Rector of the Belgrade University and on behalf of the Innovation Fund by its Managing Director Mr. Ivan Rakonjac, and Professor Vesna Spasojević Brkić, PhD, of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Professor Melina Kalagasidis Krušić, PhD and Professor Emila Živković, PhD, of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy. The agreements were signed in the presence of Mr. Nenad Popović, Minister of Innovation and Technological Development, Professor Radivoje Mitrović, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Professor Djordje Janković, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy.

Mr. Nenad Popović, Minister of Innovation and Technological Development said: ”This team’s potential is really big and its key objectives primarily involve commercialisation of scientific research results of the work performed by university researchers, together with strengthening of ties between science and industry. Also, important is an additional opportunity it provides for people dealing with innovations, for researchers who perceive innovations as the goal, in particular their commercialisation and strengthening of ties with commercial entities in Serbia. The level of research applied in the Serbian industry is still suboptimal and through this programme we intend to promote this idea to the largest extent possible, to make it beneficial for both the industry and scientific research organisations.“

”We are proud of the efforts and work of our researchers and the Technology Transfer Centre of the Belgrade University, which resulted in signing agreements on providing support in commercialisation for 3 projects of the University. We are soon to sign the agreements for 2 more projects the funding of which has been approved in the meantime. The programmes such as the Technology Transfer Facility are extremely important for commercialisation of the applied research and it has been recognized by researchers as well. The Technology Transfer Centre of the Belgrade University is preparing another 4 new applications for this programme and we believe that they will be also successful“, said Professor Vladimir Bumbaširević, PhD, Rector of the University of Belgrade.

Mr. Ivan Rakonjac, Director of the Innovation Fund, said that the Fund’s mission is to support the market distribution of scientific research with commercial potential. ”So far, 6 projects of scientific research institutions have been backed through the Technology Transfer Facility with slightly over RSD 10 million. These projects evidence that science can develop attractive products with commercial potential.“ He added that the documentation for filing applications for this facility was simplified, and that the amount of funds for supporting research projects was increased up to RSD 6 million.

The Fund provided RSD 1.7 million for international patent protection, the development of prototypes and a promotional video for the project of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy ‘Multifunctional Colour Catcher Balls – MCCB’. The amount of RSD 1.7 million was provided for the development of a prototype and software for analysis and patent protection for the project of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy ‘Prototype of the Instrument for Measurement of Thermal Conductivity of Multicomponent Liquid Mixtures’. Funding in the amount of RSD 1.9 million was earmarked for the project of the University of Mechanical Engineering ‘Prototyping of new generation of ergonomically adapted crane cabins’ chairs’ for the development and testing of the crane chair prototype. The ultimate goal of support is to distribute on the market the products developed within the above projects owing to, among others, the Innovation Fund and the Fund’s Technology Transfer Office.

The Technology Transfer Facility provides public scientific research institutions in Serbia with support for further development of the research with commercial potential, with the goal to find a partner in the private sector and distribute their innovation on the market. The Technology Transfer Facility is implemented as part of the Project of support to research, innovations and technology transfer in Serbia, funded from the EU Instrument of Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) for 2013.

Project information

Project name: Multifunctional Colour Catcher Balls (MCCB)

Institution: University of Belgrade – Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy

Funding through TTF: RSD 1.7 million

Description: In this project, multifunctional balls of hydrogel are developed for catching colours and they enable removal of any colour or the colour present in the wash water, to avoid dying of that and/or any other material present in such washing liquid. Unlike ”one-time colour removers“ already present on the market, these balls can be re-used without considerable loss in efficiency. Besides, the balls are bio-degradable and an energy-efficient method is used in their production.

Project name: Prototype of the Instrument for Measurement of Thermal Conductivity of Multicomponent Liquid Mixtures

Institution: University of Belgrade – Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy

Funding through TTF: RSD 1.7 million

Description: The goal of this project is to develop a prototype of the instrument for measuring thermal conductivity of liquid samples, primarily intended for industrial use. The instrument uses needle-type sensors that are mechanically strong and easy to use, enabling simultaneous measurement of thermal conductivity of several samples of multicomponent liquids.

Project name: Prototyping of new generation of ergonomically adapted crane cabins’ chairs

Institution: University of Belgrade – Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Funding through TTF: RSD 1.9 million

Description: An innovative design of a crane chair based on the conducted anthropometric measurements enables a better position to operators during the work and alternative position during the resting period. The proposed design ensures less disturbance and stress to the operator, along with increased productivity, safety, and reduced production and insurance costs.