Increased demand for high-quality healthcare for our aging population means that medical device design must satisfy multiple requirements for enhanced biocompatibility, anti-bacterial resistance, manipulation of proteins and improved physical properties. The use of micro/nano structures integral to the surface of a device is a novel way to uniformly tune and control these properties. Polymer materials are ubiquitous in medical devices: in Europe alone, this sector includes 27,000 companies employing 675,000 people with an annual turnover of €110 billion. Precision processing of polymers with micro/nano structures is critical to developing high value-added medical devices. Our ETN focuses on surface integrity issues when micro/nano processing polymers for high performance medical devices. We will develop micro/nano-scale precision manufacturing processes, specifically moulding and forming, and additive and subtractive manufacturing, aimed at 6 classes of medical devices that have particular industry-defined requirements. A strategy to design surface micro/nano structures that provide required functionality for these devices will be established. The surface integrity of these materials and devices will be studied at a fundamental level and correlated with functionality, allowing for optimising the efficacy and performance of the medical devices. Our training will ensure that 12 outstanding ESRs become experts in design and the precision micro/nano processing of polymers for medical devices, thereby improving their career prospects. Our ESRs will undertake interdisciplinary and intersectoral research on polymer micro/nano processing for medical applications and obtain work experience with international industry. They will receive specialised technical training and transferable skills structured around state-of-the-art individual research projects that will provide them with pathways to engineering and manufacturing careers in Europe’s world-leading industry.

Our ability to utilise biological systems to produce medicines has improved the quality of life for millions of EU citizens. In recent years a new wave of exciting biopharmaceuticals have been discovered with the potential to advance current treatments for a variety of disorders. These new medicines, however, are becoming increasingly complex and difficult to manufacture. Overcoming the inherent heterogeneity of cells grown in vitro to produce effective, uniform and safe biopharmaceuticals is one of the most significant challenges faced by industry today. The STACCATO European Industrial Doctorate has been specifically designed to strengthen Europe’s innovation capacity and leadership in the BioPharma sector. The consortium will provide exceptional intersectoral training to 11 ESRs through pioneering research focused on harnessing recent advances in single cell analysis to generate and apply a new suite of tools for cell culture process development. ESRs will participate in a specialised training programme to build their proficiency in essential research and industry disciplines. Additional training in professional skills and entrepreneurship will enable ESRs to become future leaders in biopharmaceutical manufacturing science. STACCATO is composed of an industry leader in instrumentation for cellular analysis, 3 innovative biotechnology SMEs, a leading academic institution and a research conducting biological medicines regulatory agency. The STACCATO EID will immerse all ESRs in highly dynamic industrial environments while receiving supervision from leading academics. A feature of STACCATO is collaboration amongst experts in the production of different biopharmaceuticals such as therapeutic proteins and CAR T cell therapy. All ESRs will receive unparalleled exposure to pan-biopharmaceutical manufacturing challenges to foster collaboration, catalyse synergies across the network and ultimately create a truly unique training experience.