Minimize the environmental impact of the use of micro and nanorobots

In this scenario of technological changes – previously considered science fiction – it is necessary to explore manufacturing techniques based on mass production and that are profitable to guarantee that micro- and nanorobots can be manufactured and deployed industrially. However, one of the aspects that has not yet received enough attention is the waste management cycle associated with the manufacturing and use of these miniaturized robots. Connecting the world of small-scale robotics with fields such as green chemistry, sustainability and the circular economy throughout the entire life cycle of these devices is, today, a challenge for the entire scientific community.

Responding to this new environmental challenge is the main objective of the GREENS project, a pioneering initiative that will apply for the first time the principle of the 5 Rs (reduce, recycle, rethink, repair and reuse) from manufacturing to use and final disposal. of nanotechnological platforms. It is led by researcher Maria Guix, from the ChemInFlow (Chemistry In Flow and Nanomaterials Synthesis) research group, directed by Professor Josep Puigmartí, from the Department of Materials Science and Physical Chemistry of the Faculty of Chemistry and the Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry. (IQTC) of the UB.

Reduction of environmental impact

GREENS (Training program on the implementation of the 5 Rs in the design, manufacture and application of micro- and nanorobotic platforms) is the only project selected within the framework of the latest call for doctoral networks linked to the Marie Skłodowska actions -Curie (MSCA-DN). This is a highly competitive and demanding call at the European level, which is promoted by the Horizon Europe program.

The Autonomous University of Barcelona also collaborates; the University of Zaragoza; the University of Alcalá; the company Movic Weare, SL; the Aldo Moro University of Bari, in Italy; the Wigner Center for Physics Research, in Hungary; the Medical University of Graz, in Austria; the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, in Germany; the Federal Polytechnic School of Zurich, in Switzerland, and the University of Gothenburg and Swedish Algae Factory, in Sweden, among other institutions and entities.

Greener and more sustainable circular economy

GREENS responds to concerns about preventing small-scale robotic technologies from generating new forms of pollution or causing harmful ecological effects on the environment. Therefore, from February 2025 to January 2029 GREENS will integrate the dimension of sustainability in the design, manufacturing and application processes in the field of small-scale robotics to minimize its environmental impact. The initiative is aligned with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) established by the European Commission (EC), and is of great importance for the EC Environmental Action Programme.

Thus, GREENS joins the goal of turning Europe into the first circular, sustainable and climate-neutral economy. The project addresses critical societal challenges in the areas of health and the environment, and will accelerate digital and green transitions, while improving industrial leadership and autonomy. The project will also encourage the use of ecological and biodegradable materials from the European Union – kilometer zero strategy – or recycled from waste, and will facilitate the design of versatile and reprogrammable robots. These practices will help reduce transport-related emissions, as well as improve support for local economies and develop a more sustainable economy for the benefit of all of society.