Circularising and recycling medical-grade plastics present unique challenges due to the stringent requirements for safety, sterility, and quality control in medical application.

Addressing these challenges requires collaboration among stakeholders across the supply chain, from manufacturers, healthcare providers to regulators and recycling experts. It also requires research and development efforts focused on innovative recycling technologies, material design, and supply chain management.

During this session our speakers will share insights into studies and projects undertaken on this topic both in France and Ireland. We will share insights, explore challenges, and identify opportunities for potential collaboration across our jurisdictions to tackle this collective challenge.

Program:

• Welcome & Session Overview – Caitríona Mordan, ATIM Cluster Manager
• Circularising single-use lab plastics – an Irish context: case study, challenges and opportunities- Dr. Noel Gately, Applied Polymer Technology (APT)  
• Preparing for EVAPLUS: a study on recycling and recovery of used plastics in the French health sector – Dr Nicolas Longhitano, Innovation manager, Polymeris
• Audience Questions/Discussion
• POLREC: Opportunities to attend Conferences & Internationalisation – Roxane Girard, European affairs and Interclustering projects manager, Polymeris
• Opportunities for collaboration and engagement in Ireland – Caitríona Mordan, ATIM Cluster
• Meeting Close

Speaker Bios:

Dr. Noel Gately
Dr. Gately is the Centre manager at the Applied Polymer Technologies (APT) Gateway, which is hosted at the Polymer, Recycling, Industrial, Sustainability and Manufacturing Research Institute (PRISM) in the Technological University of the Shannon. The APT Technology Gateway is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-27.

Leading Applied Polymer Technologies in industrial applied research, the gateway is consistently a top performing centre in the Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway programme. Dr Gately’s role is to drive industrially steered strategic research, building on key niche capacities to develop next generation plastics and raising TUS profile as a pivotal stakeholder in Ireland’s high performing polymer economy. Dr. Gately holds a first-class honours degree in Toxicology and completed his PhD in Polymer science. Dr. Gately has over 14 years industrial experience in various industries including the polymer, electrical switchgear industry and medical device industries. He has led the completion of a €5.5million dedicated polymer building and infrastructure development within TUS and coordinated the funding of €5.2 Million of cutting-edge equipment through the Enterprise Ireland Capital call as well as a leading role in a €2.67M DTIF funding for next generation Ostomy care products. He has contributed to 20+ research articles, 1 book chapter and 3 patents.

Dr Nicolas Longhitano, Innovation manager, Polymeris
After graduating with a specialization in Polymer Science from ECPM in Strasbourg, Nicholas earned a PhD in Polymer Chemistry through a collaboration between LCPO in Bordeaux and Saint-Gobain. His research focused on developing novel bio-based and non-toxic binders for housing and composite materials. Following his tenure as a resin designer at Resicare, which develops and markets high-performance resins dedicated to industrial applications, he joined the Polymeris cluster team in 2022, as Innovation Manager. He is in charge of the Pays de la Loire regional ecosystem.

The post Advancing Circular Economy & Recycling of Medical Grade Polymers appeared first on Irish Polymer Group.

The post IPG Conference 2023 appeared first on Irish Polymer Group.

The post Women in STEM appeared first on Irish Polymer Group.

The post Polymer Conference 2023 appeared first on Irish Polymer Group.