MATERIALS RESEARCH CENTER

Their core work

Materials Research Center is a Ukrainian SME specializing in advanced materials science, with particular strength in nanomaterials, polymer composites, and biosensor development. Their work spans from synthesizing 1D and 2D nanostructures (metal oxides, MXenes, graphene) to applying them in real-world contexts like cancer detection, air quality protection, and oral health diagnostics. They contribute materials expertise and characterization capabilities to international research consortia through the MSCA-RISE staff exchange mechanism.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

MRC's early H2020 involvement (2016) began with fundamental biophysics and environmental nanomaterials — projects like assymcurv (membrane proteins) and NANOGUARD2AR (indoor air). From 2018 onward, they shifted decisively toward applied nanomaterials with clear diagnostic and industrial purposes: cancer detection via metal oxide nanostructures, functional polymer composites with graphene and MXene, and microfluidic biosensors. The trajectory shows a move from fundamental science toward application-oriented materials development with biomedical and health relevance.

MRC is moving toward biomedical sensing applications built on their nanomaterials expertise, making them a strong fit for future health-tech and diagnostic device consortia.

How they like to work

MRC exclusively participates as a partner, never as coordinator — consistent with their SME size and the MSCA-RISE format, which emphasizes staff exchange and knowledge transfer. With 51 unique partners across 20 countries from just 5 projects, they operate in large, geographically diverse consortia. This broad network suggests they are well-connected and comfortable working across cultural and institutional boundaries, though the RISE format naturally produces large partner lists.

Despite being based in Ukraine, MRC has collaborated with 51 unique partners across 20 countries — an unusually wide network for an SME with only 5 projects, reflecting the large consortium nature of MSCA-RISE actions.

What sets them apart

MRC brings Ukrainian materials science expertise into European consortia at competitive cost, with demonstrated capability across both inorganic nanostructures (metal oxides, ALD) and organic/polymer systems (composites, biosensors). Their rare combination of nanofabrication skills and biomedical application knowledge — from graphene composites to microfluidic cancer diagnostics — makes them a versatile materials partner. For consortium builders, they offer a non-EU associated country participant with genuine technical depth, not just a flag-of-convenience partner.

Highlights from their portfolio

• NANO2DAY
  Their largest funded project (EUR 243K) and most technically ambitious — working with MXene and graphene nanoparticles for multifunctional polymer composites.
• SALSETH
  Represents their newest direction (started 2019) combining biosensors with microfluidics for saliva-based diagnostics — a commercially promising application area.
• CanBioSe
  Bridges their nanofabrication expertise (ALD, electrospinning) directly to cancer detection, demonstrating clear translational potential.