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Nextstep open 18 PhD posts in March 2025 for PhD projects starting in autumn 2025. All the information are available on ESRF recruitment portal (https://www.esrf.fr/Jobs) and the deadline for application is 02 May 2025. The first 18 PhD projects will be located at ESRF – The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility,  ILL- The Institut Laue-Langevin in France and at FZJ – Institutes of Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany. PhD projects will cover a wide range of disciplines including physics, materials science, chemistry, biochemistry and engineering. The successful candidates will study a hot topic related to sustainable development or industrial competitiveness and they will learn to use some of the most advanced and exciting analytical techniques available at their host research infrastructure facility. There will also be a second cohort of 18 PhD posts to be advertised from February 2026. Nextstep is a Horizon Europe supported MSCA cofund doctoral programme. This programme expects the candidate to change country to take up employment at the PhD project host institute. See the Nextstep website FAQ (https://nextstep-programme.eu/frequently-asked-questions/) for more details on the Marie Sklodowska-Curie mobility rule. Area Science Park participates in Nexstep as a hosting infrastructure for PhD students along with ESRF (Nexstep coordinator), ILL (France), FZJ (Germany), and NTNU (Norway). TO DISCOVER THE 18 CALLS AND GET MORE DETAILS, CLICK HERE

To achieve the “zero emissions” target, emerging technologies such as green hydrogen are essential. However, the production of green hydrogen through electrolysis depends on critical raw materials (CRM), for which the demand is increasing, while supply remains concentrated in just a few countries. The study was presented at the “IRTC25: From Raw Material Policies to Practice” conference held in Ljubljana, supported by EIT RawMaterials (European Union) and the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (Switzerland). The research, conducted by Area Science Park (Riccardo Priore and Marinella Favot) and the University of Milano-Bicocca (Marco Compagnoni) within the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley project – NAHV, explored two key aspects: technological innovation in green hydrogen through the analysis of patents and the assessment of the criticality of the raw materials necessary. To identify global trends in green hydrogen innovation, patents related to key technologies such as fuel cells and electrolysers were analysed. Additionally, the criticality of the raw materials necessary for these technologies was assessed based on the EU’s list of critical raw materials. Thanks to the PatLib Centre at Area Science Park, the study used a patent database (PATSTAT) covering the period from 2000 to 2023, focusing on: temporal trends in patents for fuel cells and electrolysers countries with the strongest interest in intellectual property protection on these topics the most used critical raw materials and their trends over time. The picture that emerged is the following: patent applications for hydrogen technologies have increased significantly, reaching 5,380 applications filed in 2022 (a figure that may continue to grow), making a total of over 45,600 applications from 2000 to 2023 (noting that the publication secrecy period for applications is 18 months); China, Japan and the USA are the territories most interested in the legal protection (via patents) of the production or commercialisation of key green hydrogen technologies; 13% of patents mention at least one critical raw material, with Nickel, Platinum and Lithium as the most important for both technologies (fuel cells and electrolysers). The researchers conclude that while the increase in patent applications highlights a global push towards green hydrogen-based solutions, the dependency on critical raw materials such as Nickel, Platinum and Lithium raises concerns about supply risks, price volatility and geopolitical dependencies. To ensure the sustainable growth of hydrogen technologies, it will be crucial to develop new research into alternative materials and, at the same time, effective recycling strategies and supply chains.

An innovative solution for the recovery and reuse of yttrium, a rare and critical chemical element, from electronic waste, has emerged from research conducted by Area Science Park and the University of Udine, presented at the “IRTC25” conference in Ljubljana. The study, conducted by Marinella Favot, Roberta Curiazi and Antonio Massarutto, demonstrates how Yttrium Triflate (Y(OTf)₃), a widely used catalyst in the pharmaceutical industry, can be produced in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way from waste materials. Yttrium and its compounds play a crucial role in numerous chemical and technological processes within the pharmaceutical sector. This element is used as a catalyst in key reactions for the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates, such as hydrolysis, condensation and oxidation-reduction reactions. Thanks to its high efficiency, yttrium triflate, in particular, makes it possible to reduce reaction times and improve chemical process yield, making it indispensable for the production of complex molecules that form the basis of many medicines. As well as its use as a catalyst, yttrium is used in advanced technologies such as solid-state lasers, used in medical devices for surgery and diagnostics (YAG – Yttrium Aluminium Garnet lasers), in medical imaging techniques (including positron emission tomography – PET) and in biocompatible materials used in medical devices. Additionally, yttrium is used in the production of ceramics, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and plasma screens, cathode ray tubes (CRT), automotive catalysts, fluorescent lamps, permanent magnets and metallic alloys for batteries, as well as in fuel cells and electrolysers (key green hydrogen technologies), primarily in the form of yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ).   Recycling Yttrium from Electronic Waste: A Sustainable Solution The research presented at the “IRTC25” conference focuses on recovering yttrium oxide, which is present in small quantities in electronic waste, and transforming it into yttrium triflate through a three-stage process: catalyst synthesis, filtration and water removal. Although the final product is not 100% purified, it has proven to be effective and economically sustainable compared to purchasing pure yttrium triflate on the market. “The recycling process not only reduces dependence on virgin raw materials but it also represents a cost-effective solution”, explains Marinella Favot of Area Science Park. “In fact, recovering yttrium from electronic waste is more cost-effective than traditional disposal methods, especially when the price of the recovered material exceeds the costs of collection and treatment.” This research has been selected for a pitch at Apple and McKinsey’s “Talent meets Industry” event and represents a significant step towards a more sustainable circular economy, reducing the environmental and social impact linked to rare earth extraction and improving the resilience of supply chains. However, some challenges remain, such as the volatility of the prices of pure materials and the need to develop infrastructures for the treatment of electronic waste in Europe. In a global context where the demand for critical materials such as yttrium is constantly increasing, the recycling of electronic waste is confirmed as a key strategy for ensuring a more sustainable future and reducing environmental impact, also in pharmaceutical production.