Ris?

(Ris? National Laboratory :: Denmark :: Research Partner)

Web site: www.risoe.dk

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Description

Ris? is the national science laboratory of Denmark operating under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. The organisation was founded in 1956 and was officially inaugurated in 1958. The total built-up area is about 80,000 m2 and the grounds of the research centre are approximately 262 hectares in area. At present, the laboratory has a total staff of 791 and an annual budget of some 600 million Danish kroner. Income is divided between a grant from government and contract activities in approximately a 50:50 ratio, with contract activities covering a range of types including contract projects for companies or groups of companies as well as nationally- or internationally-funded projects (e.g., Danish Science Council supported projects, EU projects, etc.). Ris? has seven research departments: the Danish Polymer Centre, Wind Energy, Materials Research, Optics and Fluid Dynamics, Radiation Research, Systems Analysis and Plant Research. The main themes cutting horizontally across these seven departments are energy, industrial technology, bioproduction and radiation safety. Wind energy, new materials and bioproduction were specifically named as important priorities within a new overall strategy developed at Ris? in 2000.

The role of Ris? within Danish society is to carry out research in science and technology that will provide Denmark with new opportunities for technological development. The research targets new opportunities for Danish industry and contributes to the development of environmentally acceptable methods for agricultural and industrial production as well as the means of energy generation for society in the future. Ris? has a special responsibility for consolidating the knowledge base on nuclear issues and provides consultancy to governmental authorities in this area. The laboratory collaborates extensively with universities, research institutes, technological institutes and industry on a national, European and wider international basis. A strong emphasis is placed on the education of young researchers through PhD and post-doctoral programmes.

The Danish Polymer Centre within Ris? National Laboratory has a staff of some 40 researchers, technicians, visiting researchers, students, post docs and support staff. The group has strong links to groups in two departments at the Technical University of Denmark through joint projects and common use of facilities. This allows, for example, access to large-scale polymer processing equipment and involvement in polymer science education at DTU amongst other activities. Current research projects within the Danish Polymer Centre at Ris? include proactive bio-based cheese packaging (Biopack), polymer degradation (Monepol), polymer-based solar cells, polymer actuators (Artmus) and nano-structured surfaces for medical applications. The involvement of the group in the EU Fifth Framework BIOPACK project targeting biopolymer-based films for extended shelf-life cheese packaging is particularly relevant to the SUSTAINPACK project as experience gained in the former project will be applicable to research under the new EU Sixth Framework project.

Research personnel