INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE MACROMOLECULARA PETRU PONI

Their core work

ICMPP is Romania's leading macromolecular chemistry research institute, specializing in polymer science, supramolecular chemistry, and advanced materials. Their practical work spans biomedical applications — from diagnostic breath tests for tropical diseases and bovine tuberculosis to fluorescent drug markers for cancer imaging and smart wound dressings based on chitosan nanostructures. They also contribute to bio-based materials research, including circular forest bioeconomy infrastructure. The institute bridges fundamental polymer chemistry with applied health and materials science, often through international staff exchange and capacity-building programmes.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

ICMPP's early H2020 work (2015–2018) focused on building institutional capacity — the large ERA Chair grant SupraChem Lab anchored this period alongside exploratory participation in diagnostics (TROPSENSE) and bioeconomy infrastructure (ERIFORE). From 2018 onward, their focus sharpened toward specific biomedical applications: breath-based veterinary diagnostics (bTB-Test), fluorescent markers for cancer drug imaging (NoBiasFluors), and smart wound care materials (SWORD). The trajectory shows a clear shift from capacity-building and broad chemistry toward targeted health-oriented applications of their polymer and materials expertise.

ICMPP is moving toward applied biomedical materials — expect future work in diagnostic sensors, drug delivery systems, and bioactive wound care technologies.

How they like to work

ICMPP operates primarily as a specialist partner (6 of 7 projects), contributing polymer and materials chemistry expertise to international consortia. Their single coordination — the ERA Chair SupraChem Lab — was a capacity-building grant rather than a research consortium, reflecting their role as a knowledge contributor rather than a project driver. With 52 unique partners across 25 countries, they are well-networked and open to diverse collaborations, particularly through MSCA-RISE staff exchange programmes which dominate their portfolio.

ICMPP has collaborated with 52 distinct partners across 25 countries, giving them a remarkably broad European and international network for an institute of their size. Their heavy use of MSCA-RISE mobility schemes means many of these connections involve direct researcher exchanges, creating deeper ties than typical consortium participation.

What sets them apart

ICMPP occupies a distinctive niche at the intersection of macromolecular chemistry and biomedical diagnostics — a combination rarely found in Eastern European research centres. Their ERA Chair investment means they have upgraded research infrastructure and international leadership in supramolecular chemistry, making them a strong partner for consortia needing polymer expertise applied to health challenges. For coordinators seeking Romanian partners with genuine materials science depth and extensive MSCA mobility experience, ICMPP is a natural fit.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SupraChem Lab
  ERA Chair grant worth EUR 2.5M — by far their largest project and their only coordination, signalling major institutional investment in supramolecular chemistry capacity.
• bTB-Test
  Unusual combination of metabolomics and electronic nose technology for veterinary diagnostics, demonstrating ICMPP's ability to apply chemistry expertise to real-world agricultural health problems.
• NoBiasFluors
  Positions ICMPP in the competitive field of fluorescent drug markers for cancer imaging, connecting their dye chemistry skills to high-impact pharmaceutical applications.