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EXCHANGE // Career boost follows research exchange How can we produce packaging for milk and soured milk with high waterrepellent properties? This was one of the questions underlying Rauni Seppänen’s research project. BY ANNICA HULTH PHOTO JENNY GAULITZ “W e’ve had a very good, smooth partnership,” says Rauni Seppänen of VINNMER, former researcher at the Institute for Surface Chemistry (YKI) in Stockholm. Having completed several years’ research at YKI, Seppänen wanted to learn more about the physical structure of cardboard packaging. For example, what happens when liquid penetrates at the edges where the packaging opens? One way of finding out is to use X-ray tomography; this gives highly realistic, three-dimensional images of the paper’s structure. The X-ray equipment was located at Jyväskylä University in Finland. Four companies were linked to the project: two cardboard manufacturers and two chemical companies. Once at Jyväskylä, Seppänen met a doctoral student who wanted to get involved in the studies and after the two got to know each other, the project really took off. “There was a real snowball effect. She’s a physicist and I’m a surface chemist, so this was a meeting of two worlds. She’s now passed her doctorate and is planning to continue her research at YKI,” says Seppänen. Thanks to this project, Seppänen spent three months at Tokyo University studying surface treatment of cellulose fibres. In December, Seppänen moved from the strictly academic world and started work as a research and development specialist at Holmen Paper. Fresh challenges await her in this industry, like developing paper that works optimally in the printing process. Her research goes on. “Once a researcher, always a researcher. Now I’m the customer, the one commissioning research. Obviously, I’ll benefit from my experience at YKI,” she concludes. CAREERIST. After many years as a researcher at the Institute of Surface Chemistry, Rauni Seppänen has taken the step into industry. PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY PURPOSE: To increase understanding of the importance of surface chemistry and structure in food packaging made of cardboard. PARTICIPANTS: Institute of Surface Chemistry, Jyväskylä University, Tokyo University, Korsnäs, Stora Enso, Hercules and Kemira. FUNDING: Contributions were made through VINNMER (half salary for three years), Jyväskylä University (research instruments and a doctoral student) and companies (cash and benefits). 16 VINNOVA-CUTTING EDGE No 2 2011
Through her research, Nazanin Emami can help increase the life of orthopaedic implants. LESS PAIN and lower care costs BIOTRIBOLOGY. Wear, lubrication and friction in hip and knee joints are the primary interests of Nazanin Emami and her research group. BY KATARINA AHLFORT PHOTO SHUTTERSTOCK In 2007 when Nazanin Emami, a lector at Luleå University of Technology, did her post-doctorate in biotribology in Australia 2007, she wondered how many of her future ambitions would be realised. “We are reducing human suffering as well as saving billions of kronor in care costs by developing more sustainable implant materials. This means many patients can avoid repeated, serious operations,” says Emami.“I applied to the VINNMER programme and when I was eventually successful, many of my Australian colleagues observed that ‘Sweden is a wonderful country for researchers,’” she says. BUT THE COMPETITION amongst programme applicants was stiff. “The VINNMER grant paid 50 percent of my salary; in other words 50 percent freedom to do research for a three-year period. That’s a freedom normally only available to research assistants. As a senior researcher, there’s seldom such a scope,” says Emami. Biotribology research aims to reduce friction and improve lubrication for implants in the body. “For over 40 years, hip and knee implant surgery has been one of the greatest orthopaedic success stories. But implants that ought to last a lifetime are in reality only lasting around 15 years,” she says. FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, implant changes are generally required and that means comprehensive surgeries. “We hope to be to reduce the number of painful procedures. The primary target group for my research is younger patients, such as teenagers who have been injured in car accidents or people in their 40s affected by rheumatic problems. They should be able to jump and bounce around and have an active life.” Emami’s research has already resulted in four “Implants which ought to last a lifetime in reality are lasting only 10 to 15 years.” Nazanin Emami new jobs as she has employed three doctoral students into the research group. “We’re well underway where it concerns strengthening polymeric materials with nanoparticles,” she says. “Of the four others in the group three are women, which is a positive thing given the otherwise male-dominated tribology research group at Luleå University of Technology.” The research is multidisciplinary; the researchers at Luleå are collaborating with medical orthopaedists both in Sweden and abroad. The programme has confirmed the group’s initiatives in the field of biotribology and has made it possible to build bridges, with research institutes in Australia, Portugal and Great Britain participating in sub-projects. IMPLANTS • At Luleå University of Technology, three projects are under way within the field of biotribology. The emphasis is on hip and knee implants. • Projects are being conducted in partnership with the Center for Medical Technology and Physics at Luleå University, Leeds University in Great Britain, the University of Aveiro in Portugal and a number of companies. VINNOVA-CUTTING EDGE No 2 2011 17
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Page 9 and 10: IN SHORT Green POWER Illustration A
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