The interdisciplinary funding program BIOREMIA was launched in 2020. Since then, Professor Mariana Calin from the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden has coordinated this EU-funded project. Together with 17 partner institutions from 12 European countries, the program was aimed at providing specialized training for 15 young scientists in the field of biomedical materials research. The focus was on finding materials that would improve the biological acceptance of implants in the body through optimized antibacterial functionality.
The funding program provided participants in the participating institutions with excellent research environments and, with its many workshops, also created extensive opportunities to satisfy the demands of modern and interdisciplinary science.
After four years, everyone involved can look back on a varied collaboration. In conversation with the coordinator, Prof. Mariana Calin, the project manager, Anne Hönemann, and one of the young scientists, it becomes clear how much the intensive support benefits each individual as well as the future development of research and innovation.
Ms. Calin, you assumed the role of scientific coordinator for the project over four years ago. What benefits do you see arising from the training network?
Mariana Calin: Doing a doctorate at one institution is very different from participating in an international training network like BIOREMIA. Doctoral students must fulfill the requirements of their host university and of the overall project. The various aspects of the joint research topic are therefore relevant to their scientific development from the very beginning. By working in this interdisciplinary environment, the young people were able to consult a variety of experts from the academic and industrial sectors for scientific and personal advice. Individual doctoral students are usually dependent on the knowledge of their local support team. Networking – now an indispensable asset – is not only a significant advantage during the duration of the project but also in the long term, compared to a traditional doctorate. In addition, BIOREMIA offered training sessions that extended beyond the purely scientific part and taught skills such as teamwork. This kind of support is not only extremely valuable in a scientific context, but also has an impact on how respectfully and connected we hope to live and work together in the future.
This type of doctorate is probably very sought after then, especially since the field of “biomedical materials research” is very promising for the future?
Anne Hönemann: Yes, that’s true. Over 900 students from 69 countries applied for the 15 doctoral positions. The selection process posed significant challenges for the entire consortium, particularly due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic at the time. Today, we can say that we really made the right decision back then. These young scientists, their motivation and their talent, were the heart of BIOREMIA.
Did the project meet your expectations?
Mariana Calin: The individual development opportunities, the lived internationality, the rather generous remuneration of doctoral students, and the combination of academic and industrial supervision made BIOREMIA a very motivating overall package. It was a very successful and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
Mr. Adnan Akman, you are one of the fifteen students being financed by the EU project. You spent most of your BIOREMIA training at IFW Dresden. What was your primary area of research here?
Adnan Akman: At IFW Dresden, I worked on the corrosion behavior and electrochemical reaction of so-called metastable titanium alloys with bactericidal coatings based on oxides for implant applications. This involved working in the laboratory to collect data and, of course, then analyzing it.
Unlike most doctoral students, however, you were able to benefit from a more extensive education with BIOREMIA. Your second stop was the INSA Lyon University in France. What makes training in a network like BIOREMIA particularly valuable in your opinion?
Adnan Akman:It was a great opportunity to regularly meet with the other doctoral students, to exchange ideas on interrelated topics, and to develop joint ideas. But in addition to the scientific part, there are also the people and their way of life, and especially in France: French cuisine, art, and hospitality. In the end, of course, it is also about leaving your own comfort zone in order to grow as a person and gain experience. That, I think, is something very special for an EU funding program.
Ms. Calin, was the project a success from a scientific point of view, as well as in terms of its primary goal of supporting young researchers?
Mariana Calin:In addition to over thirty scientific publications and numerous participations in international conferences, two patents are now being developed by consortium partners. On top of that, most of the students sponsored have successfully completed their doctorates. The amount of scientific knowledge that has been generated here is quite considerable.
Will the collaborations that have been established through the network continue to exist after BIOREMIA has ended and lead to new projects?
Anne Hönemann: During the final meeting, new areas of research were already being discussed. The project partners are highly motivated to continue working together. It is still unclear who will coordinate these subsequent collaborations. It’s a lot of work, but the effort to invest in these young researchers is worthwhile for everyone involved. It's great to see that the project is having such a long-term impact.
What were some of the particular challenges in implementing the project?
Anne Hönemann:As mentioned earlier, the selection of doctoral students was a major task at the beginning. And then, of course, we also had to deal with the effects of the coronavirus. At that time, a lot of things were taking place online that were actually intended to be a direct exchange. Good communication is essential within the so-called consortium. Coordinating such a network must be very service-oriented to ensure that the network also becomes successful in training. This also includes deliberately taking the time and creating the opportunities to exchange ideas with each other.
Mariana Calin: The regular meetings of all those involved have proven to be very fruitful and motivating. This is where ideas for possible collaborations or joint publications were born and developed. The newly launched EIFFEL training network, which started at IFW Dresden in February2024, will benefit from this management experience. With the completion of BIOREMIA, Anne Hönemann will provide administrative support for this new project, thereby helping another group of young scientists to complete their comprehensive training.
We wish you all the best and thank you very much for the interview.
More about BIOREMIA: https://www.bioremia.eu/
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Contact Project management BIOREMIA ITN and EIFFEL ITN
Anne Hönemann
eMail: a.hoenemann[at]ifw-dresden.de
Phone: 0351 - 4659 634
Press contact
Patricia Bäuchler
eMail: p.baeuchler[at]ifw-dresden.de
Phone: +49 351 - 4659 249
