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ΚΑΙΝΟΤΟΜΙΑ
ΕΡΕΥΝΑ & ΤΕΧΝΟΛΟΓΙΑ
Ι
02 - 03/ 2010
3 2
highlights
INDIGO:
A futuristic cicerone touring us through the past
Research projects for fuel cells and hydrogen
Institute of Chemical Engineering and High Temperature Chemical
Processes of the Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas
(FORTH) participates in four European projects, in the field of
fuel cells and hydrogen production. These RTD projects, which
have a total EC contribution of 6.368.606 Euro and started in
January 2010, are: "Understanding and minimizing anode degra-
dation in hydrogen and natural gas fuelled SOFCs (ROBAN-
ODE)", "Understanding the Degradation Mechanisms of
Membrane-Electrode-Assembly for High Temperature PEMFCs
and Optimization of the Individual Components (DEMMEA)",
"Development of an Internal Reforming Alcohol High Temperature
PEM Fuel Cell Stack (IRAFC)" and "Sustainable Hydrogen
Generation (SUSHGEN)".
INNO
VATION
RESEARCH
ΤECHNOLOGY
&
It can comprehend elements of natural lan-
guage and provide respective information
about the exhibits or other elements that
have been stored in its databases, while
guiding the visitors through the area. The
INDIGO robot operates as a pilot at the
Cultural Centre "Hellenic Cosmos", at a
specially shaped experimental exhibition
space and holds data from the virtual recon-
struction of the Ancient Agora of Athens.
It is based on an innovative approach, which
combines the ability to perceive space and
movement in it, with the synthesis of nat-
ural and not pre-recorded language. In oth-
er words it can comprehend elements of
The development of sensitive and specific methodologies to iden-
tify early epigenetic markers for major types of cancer, like prostate
and colorectal cancer, is the aim of the European consortium
EpiDiaCan which has recently been established as a project under
Seventh Framework Programme. The coordinating organization
of the project is the Laboratory of Signal Mediated Gene Expression
of the Institute of Biological Research and Biotechnology/ National
Hellenic Research Foundation (IBRB/NHRF).
This project is based on recent findings that selected covalent his-
tone modifications and their modifying enzymes can be early
markers of tumourigenesis. Non-invasive diagnostic methods
Patents:
from Invention to Innovation
Patents give their owners the right to pre-
vent others from using their invention. In
return for patent protection, applicants
must fully disclose their inventions. Patent
applications and granted patents are pub-
lished, making themone of the most impor-
tant sources of technical information. A
strong industrial property rights system is
the driving force behind innovation, stim-
ulating R&D investment and facilitating
the transfer of knowledge from the labo-
ratory to the marketplace. The high num-
ber of patent filings received annually by
the European Patent Office (EPO) is proof
of the considerable economic value of intel-
lectual property protection.
i
INDIGO
i
FORTH
i
European Patent Office
Industrial Property
Organization
A guide for the European and Greek patent
landscape, including relevant policies, orga-
nizations, tools and databases has been
prepared in this issue to help new inven-
tors and to inform a wider audience about
the patenting processes. Moreover, Dr S.
Stassinos, General Manager of the Greek
Industrial Property Organization (OBI), gave
us an interview talking about patents in
Greece and the role of OBI.
New methodologies for the identification of early epigenetic markers for cancer
based on technologies developed in the participating organiza-
tions will be tested in clinical samples. Appropriately selected clin-
ical samples will be utilized according to EU and national ethical
procedures.
The major task of the EpiDiaCan consortium will be the devel-
opment of methods to be applied in the clinic for the immediate
benefit of cancer patients.
i
EpiDiaCan
natural language and provide respective
information about the exhibits or other ele-
ments that have been stored in its data-
bases, while guiding the visitors through
the area.
The INDIGO robot is the result of a three-
year research effort and dozens of researchers
from many European organizations (uni-
versities, research foundations, companies).
It was developed in the framework of the
project INDIGO - Interactionwith Personality
and Dialogue Enabled Robots, which is co-
funded directly by the European Commission
(6th Framework Programme, "Information
Society Technologies").
The coordinating organization of the pro-
ject is the Foundation of Research and
Technology-Hellas (FORTH). The other part-
ners are the Foundation of the Hellenic
World, University of Edinburgh, University
of Freiburg, Athens University of Economics
and Business - Department of Informatics,
National Centre for Scientific Research
"Demokritos" (Greece), the University of
Geneva and the companies Neobotix
(Germany), Hanson Robotics (USA) and
ACAPELA Group (Belgium).
The participating partners of the above programmes come from
Greece, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, France, the Czech Republic,
Poland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Bulgaria.
Fuel Cells are power generators capable of converting chemical
energy into electrical energy and with a high temperature thermal
by-product. Fuel cells can be classified into several technologies
depending on the materials used as electrolytes. Solid Oxide Fuel
Cells (SOFC) and Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEM-
FC) are considered to have high potential for market penetration.