idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
The INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials officially began its collaborative effort with the University of Namibia (UNAM) by holding a kick-off workshop. The aim of the joint project, NaMiComp, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, is to analyze Namibia’s locally available natural resources and then use them as a basis for new materials for industrial applications. INM and UNAM are working together on the NaMiComp project in order to establish and strengthen research competence in materials science at UNAM. In the long term, the aim is to build an on-site materials science institute at the University of Namibia.
The two-day long workshop, which was held at the INM, was the inaugural event for building this cooperation. Further multi-day workshops, reciprocal visits by experts, field surveys and learning cafés are set to follow.
“We’re delighted that this collaborative effort is now gaining pace,” says Günter Weber, INM’s Business Director. “Many different skills are needed to transform a natural product into a commercially profitable material. This starts with the analysis of the different types of wood, and includes the actual material and product development right through to the marketing of potential products.”
The example of acacia trees and shrubs should be highlighted to demonstrate how this biomass can be used to produce sustainable, fire resistant building materials for use in cost-effective housing construction. The large number of acacia bush-invader in Namibia has now become an environmental issue.
Kenneth Kamwi Matengu, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Namibia explains: “We have found a strong German partner in INM. This partnership will allow us to further our University’s research mission and to contribute to a commercial solution for the further processing of acacia wood into a variety of commercial products. Now that this project is underway, we have the opportunity to bring our joint vision a step closer to reality.”
Your expert at INM
Dr.-Ing. Carsten Becker-Willinger
Head of Nanomers
Head of Project NaMiComp
Phone: +49681-9300-196
carsten.becker-willinger@leibniz-inm.de
Your expert at UNAM
Dr. Erold Naomab, Industrial Bio-Chemist
Assistant Pro-Vice Chancellor: Southern Campus
Phone: +264 63 220 2002
Fax: +264 63 222211
E-mail: enaomab@unam.na
Web: http://www.unam.edu.na
Your contact in Namibia
Prof. Kenneth Kamwi Matengu
Pro-Vice Chancellor, UNAM, University of Namibia
Phone: +264 61 206 3741
kmatengu@unam.na
INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials, situated in Saarbrücken, is an internationally leading centre for materials research. INM conducts research and development to create new materials – for today, tomorrow and beyond. Research at INM is performed in three fields: Nanocomposite Technology, Interface Materials, and Bio Interfaces. INM is an institute of the Leibniz Association and has about 240 employees.
http://www.leibniz-inm.de/en
http://www.unam.edu.na/
f.l.: Gerhard Wenz, Saar Uni, Bernd Reinhard, INM, Günter Weber, INM, Erold Naomab, UNAM, Kenneth Ma ...
Sourec: INM, free within this press release
None
Criteria of this press release:
Business and commerce, Journalists
Chemistry, Materials sciences, Zoology / agricultural and forest sciences
transregional, national
Cooperation agreements, Transfer of Science or Research
English
f.l.: Gerhard Wenz, Saar Uni, Bernd Reinhard, INM, Günter Weber, INM, Erold Naomab, UNAM, Kenneth Ma ...
Sourec: INM, free within this press release
None
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