SaferCoat - EU R&D project

Daphnia magna, also known as the water flea, is a foundational freshwater organism widely used in ecotoxicology. Its transparent body and short life cycle make it easy to maintain and observe in laboratory settings. Clonal reproduction allows us to work with genetically identical individuals, enhancing test reliability.
Daphnia magna produces rapid broods, enabling quick generation turnover and efficient toxicity assessments. They are highly sensitive to xenobiotics, making them excellent bioindicators for acute and chronic toxicity tests following international guidelines, including OECD protocols.
This is one of our most important freshwater organisms for ecotoxicity testing and complements our marine organism tests, helping provide a comprehensive assessment of our coating’s safety across aquatic ecosystems.
Stay tuned to follow our next steps!

Wrapping up two inspiring days in Staré Město, Czech Republic, where the SAFERCOAT consortium met for the hybrid mid-term meeting (18 M) hosted by our partner COLORLAK.

Beyond the immersive experience, fruitful discussions and hard work, COLORLAK offered us an excellent social programme, including a visit to their facilities, a museum tour and a distillery visit.
Thank you to all partners for the active participation, our Project Officer Dr. Sotirios Kiokias for the support, tips and excellent feedback, and to COLORLAK for the warm hospitality!

A week of science and connection at SETAC Europe in Maastricht 🇳🇱

A group of researchers from the University of Aveiro, part of the SAFERCOAT project, presented their work, shared posters, and engaged with the international scientific community.

From insightful discussions to showcasing student research, this conference provided a valuable platform to exchange ideas and strengthen connections in ecotoxicology and environmental science.

Maastricht also offered a vibrant and inspiring setting for a week dedicated to science.

Swipe through to see highlights from this inspiring event ✨🔬🧪

On this Labor Day, we would like to specially celebrate the scientists who collaborate with SAFERCOAT, making the impossible possible with their brilliant minds.

Happy Labor Day! 🧑‍🔬👩‍💻🥼

Science outreach in action 🌍🫂

As part of SAFERCOAT project, we had the pleasure of visiting EB1 Santiago School to engage with two 4th-grade classes, 48 curious young minds and their teachers!

With the valuable support of our team members, Diana Carneiro, Diogo Gama, Joana Figueiredo, Mariana Bruni, and Roberto Martins, we introduced students to the world of biology, with a special focus on applied marine ecotoxicology.

Organized by the Parents’ Association of Centro Escolar de Santiago for the Spring Day celebrations, this activity gave students a hands-on opportunity to explore how we work to protect marine ecosystems. Together, we demonstrated simple experiments that they could replicate to assess the ecotoxicity of marine paints developed and tested within the SAFERCOAT project.

Inspiring the next generation to care for our oceans starts here ❤️‍🩹

Our laboratory is home to a vast and diverse group of marine microalgae species, each offering unique opportunities for ecotoxicology research. From Isochrysis galbana and Dunaliella salina to Microchloropsis gaditana, Tetraselmis chuii, and Phaeodactylum tricornutum, we have the tools to explore many facets of aquatic biology and environmental safety.
We also cultivate Cylidrontheca closterium, Nitzschia acicularis, Chaetoceros calcitrans, and Thalassiosira weissflogii, which are species that expand our experimental possibilities even further.
With such a comprehensive variety of microalgae, the research possibilities are truly endless, enabling us to conduct innovative and impactful studies.
Stay tuned to follow our next steps!

Exciting news from the SAFERCOAT project!

Roberto Martins, our project coordinator, presented his work “Assessment of innovative ultra-low friction silicone foul release coatings: Are they an eco-friendly alternative?” at the 16th Biennial Meeting of SETAC Latin America from August 26–29, 2025 in Lima, Peru.

This conference visit was part of his fieldwork and collaboration in Argentina, carried out within the scope of the SAFERCOAT project.

Attending international conferences like SETAC is a fantastic opportunity to share research, receive feedback from experts, and build collaborations that drive innovation and sustainability in marine coatings.



Stay tuned to follow our next steps!

🔗 Know more: www.safercoat.eu.

🌿✨ WELCOME TO SAFERCOAT!

We are proud to launch our EU-funded project, supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) under Horizon Europe, which promotes cross-sectoral staff mobility and knowledge sharing to develop eco-friendly polymeric coatings with enhanced biodegradability.

🤝 Our consortium, coordinated by Dr. Roberto Martins from the University of Aveiro, comprises 10 partners — six universities and four companies — united by a shared vision for sustainable innovation.

Team members: Agniezka Sitarz, Ana Cláudia Dias, Ana Otero Casal, Ângela Cunha, Artur Alves, Carlos Marques, Cecilia Deya, Cristina Neves, Dana Marešová, Diogo Cardoso, Frederico Maia, Giulio Malucelli, Jakub Opršal, Jana Machotová Jiri Handl, Jiří Sedlář, João Tedim, Katerina Zetkova, Katarzyna Klajn, Konstantinos Grintzalis, Manuel Romero, Maria Pavlaki, Massimo Lazzari, Miroslav Večeřa, Nuno Ferreira, Renata Tislova, Susana Loureiro, Tomas Rousar, Victor Neto, Vitezslav Zima.

🏛️ Academic partners
Dublin City University - DCU (IE)
Politecnico di Torino (IT)
Universidad Nacional de La Plata | UNLP (AR)
Universidade de Aveiro (PT)
Univerzita Pardubice (CZ)
Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (ES)

🏭 Companies:
Colorlak (CZ)
Leda Polymer (PL)
Smallmatek, Small Materials and Technologies, Lda. (PT)
Synpo (CZ)

Funded by 🇪🇺 European Commission through Marie Skłodowska-Curie ActionsStaff Exchanges programme.

🔗 Know more: www.safercoat.eu

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