University of Gdańsk received funding to implement its 17^th project within the framework of Horizon 2020 Program. Project titled „Advanced High Aspect Ratio and Multicomponent materials: towards comprehensive intelligent testing and safe by design Strategies" (HARMLESS), led by dr Agnieszka Gajewicz-Skrętna will be implemented at the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Gdańsk.

The main objective of the HARMLESS project, carried out at the Department of Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry of the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Gdańsk, is to develop novel tools for intelligent and safe by design testing of next generation multicomponent nanomaterials. The developed tools will combine experimental and calculated approaches in order to achieve comprehensive physiochemical characteristics and reliable risk assessment of the newly-designed next generation nanomaterials.

The scope of project actions include:

• Verification of usability i.e. adoption of the existing and/or development of new, highly-efficient screening methods to improve Intelligent Testing Strategies (ITS) of the next generation multicomponent nanomaterials;
• Development of comprehensive in silico methods enabling quick toxicity evaluation of the next generation multicomponent nanomaterials and identification of structural characteristics of nanomaterials  responsible for their toxic side effects;
• Development of safe by design strategies for the next generation multicomponent nanomaterials;
• Case study research of the developed safe by design strategies and their evaluation;
• Development of user-friendly computer tools supporting decision making in the Industrial Sector (i.e. development of the next generation multicomponent nanomaterials)

The consortium of 19 partners will implement the HARMLESS project, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (HMGU), Germany is the consortium leader. Apart from the University of Gdańsk, the following companies and institutions comprise the consortium: Bundesinstitut fur Risikobewertung (BfR), Germany, Karolinska Institut (KI), Sweden, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepaste Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek (TNO), Netherlands, Det Nationale Forskningscenter for Arbejdsmiljo (NRCWE), Denmark, Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin (BAuA), Germany, Swansea University (SU), Great Britain, University of Paris-Saclay (CEA Saclay), France, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Spain, Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik (BASF), Germany, BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH (BIONANONET), Austria, DTU Environment (DTU), Denmark, TEMAS AG Technology and Management Services (TEMAS AG), Switzerland, European Research Services GmbH (ERC), Germany, Misvik Biology Oy (MBO), Finland, IdeaConsult Ltd. (IDEA), Bulgaria.

The consortium received almost EUR 8 million in funding, including EUR 225 thousand intended for the University of Gdańsk. The project will last for 48 months.