UNIVERZITA TOMASE BATI VE ZLINE

Their core work

Tomas Bata University in Zlín is a Czech university with strong roots in polymer science and materials engineering, reflecting the city's industrial heritage. Their H2020 work focuses on bio-based materials, cellulose processing, and energy storage materials — bridging the gap between sustainable chemistry and industrial applications. They contribute materials expertise to large European consortia tackling circular economy challenges, biodegradable plastics, and next-generation energy storage. Their involvement spans from policy-oriented energy research to hands-on compounding and biorefinery processes.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 work (2017-2019) centered on circular economy and bio-based plastics — biodegradation, recycling, composting, and policy-making for sustainable materials. From 2021 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward advanced materials science: cellulose/nanocellulose processing, biorefinery, and hybrid energy storage systems. This trajectory shows a university moving from applied environmental policy toward deeper materials research with energy applications.

Moving toward energy storage materials and cellulose-based innovation — expect growing capability in sustainable materials for energy applications.

How they like to work

Tomas Bata University operates exclusively as a participant or third-party contributor, never as a coordinator — they bring specialist materials knowledge into consortia led by others. With 101 unique partners across 28 countries from just 4 projects, they plug into very large consortia (SEALIVE and StoRIES are major multi-partner efforts). This makes them an accessible, low-friction partner: experienced in large-consortium dynamics, comfortable in a supporting expert role, and well-connected across Europe.

Despite modest project volume, they have worked with 101 partners across 28 countries — a remarkably broad European network built through participation in large-scale consortia. No single geographic bias; their reach spans Western, Southern, and Northern Europe.

What sets them apart

Zlín has a century-long industrial tradition in polymer and materials processing (rooted in the Bata manufacturing legacy), and the university carries this DNA into modern sustainable materials research. They offer a rare combination: deep polymer/cellulose materials expertise paired with circular economy and energy storage applications. For consortium builders, they represent affordable Central European materials science capacity with proven experience in large EU projects.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SEALIVE
  Their largest funded project (EUR 299,500) covering the full lifecycle of bio-based plastics from advanced compounding to biodegradation and circular economy policy.
• StoRIES
  Participation in a major European energy storage research infrastructure ecosystem, signaling a strategic move into hybrid energy storage materials.
• CELISE
  Focused on bringing cellulose and nanocellulose products to SMEs and rural areas — an unusually applied, market-oriented MSCA project.