BELARUSIAN STATE UNIVERSITY THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF PHYSICAL CHEMICAL PROBLEMS

Their core work

The Research Institute of Physical Chemical Problems at Belarusian State University is a chemistry-focused research centre specializing in electrochemistry, nanostructured materials, and functional coatings. Their teams develop metallic and semiconductor electrodes, organic light-emitting materials, and anticorrosion coatings with practical applications from electrowinning and sensing to displays and protective layers for aeronautical and maritime substrates. They contribute experimental chemistry expertise — synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical processing — to international consortia through staff exchange programmes. For partners, they are a source of hands-on physical chemistry know-how that complements European engineering and device-integration groups.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their earlier H2020 work (2018 onwards), the institute concentrated on electrochemistry-heavy topics — metallic foams, electrowinning, electrochemical machining and electrospark alloying. By 2019-2021 the portfolio broadened toward organic optoelectronic materials (TADF emitters, organic lasers) and then toward applied surface engineering, corrosion protection and circular-economy coatings for industrial substrates. The arc moves from fundamental electrochemical processing toward application-driven materials with clearer industrial end-uses.

They are drifting from electrode chemistry toward application-oriented materials — protective coatings, displays and lighting — which makes them a better fit for partners targeting real industrial products rather than pure electrochemistry research.

How they like to work

They participate exclusively as a third-party partner inside MSCA-RISE staff-exchange consortia, never as coordinator or full beneficiary. Across three projects they have worked with 29 different partners in 16 countries, suggesting they refresh collaborators per project rather than sticking with the same circle. Expect them to contribute researcher mobility and lab-based chemistry expertise inside consortia led and administratively run by EU institutions.

They have collaborated with 29 unique partners across 16 countries, a broad pan-European footprint typical of MSCA-RISE networks that reach into non-EU research communities. Their consistent role is that of a non-EU knowledge partner hosting and sending researchers.

What sets them apart

They are one of the few Belarusian chemistry research centres with a sustained presence in H2020 consortia, giving European partners a reliable door into post-Soviet electrochemistry and materials science traditions. Their combined strength in electrochemistry, organic optoelectronics and anticorrosion coatings is unusual inside one institute, which makes them a useful multi-topic chemistry partner. Because they enter via MSCA-RISE as a third party, they bring researcher exchange value rather than large funding uptake — attractive for consortia that need lab capacity and trained chemists.

Highlights from their portfolio

• MEGA
  Works on heavy-metal-free TADF emitters for next-generation displays and organic lasers — a high-value industrial topic combining organic chemistry with photonics.
• COAT4LIFE
  Their most recent and most applied project, bringing nanotechnology and circular-economy thinking to anticorrosion coatings for aeronautical and maritime use.
• SMARTELECTRODES
  Covers an unusually wide electrochemistry span — from electrowinning and catalysis to thermoelectric and sensing electrodes — showing the institute's broad electrode know-how.