UNISS
Founded in 1562, University of Sassari (UNISS) has its main headquarters in Sassari and has also established courses in Alghero, Olbia, Nuoro, and Oristano, with a student population of approximately 13,000. With its 10 departments and over 650 professors from universities across Italy, the University of Sassari provides both in-person and distance education (e-learning and teledidactics) in humanities and sciences. The educational offerings are broad and diverse, including bachelor's degrees, master's degrees (including two international programs), postgraduate courses, specialized schools, and research doctorate programs. The university boasts over 40 interdisciplinary research centers and 12 libraries. It has cooperative relationships with approximately 500 universities participating in the Erasmus Program.

Role in the project
UNISS will be WP Leader in WP3 (Vitrimerized PHA manufacturing). The objectives of this work package are: 1) Synthesis of crosslinkers from bio-sources capable of imparting different characteristics to the vitrimers prepared in the subsequent steps; 2) Laboratory-scale vitrimerization of PHAs prepared in WP2 using the techniques reported in the literature; 3) Pilot-scale vitrimerization; 4) Laboratory and pilot scale preparation of vitrimers with enhanced characteristics (self-healing, hydrophobicity, etc.) In all steps, biobased, biodegradable, non-toxic materials will be preferentially used. More generally, the principles of green chemistry will be applied.
UNISS will be also involved in:

• WP2 (PHA development and production): T2.2 Production of vitrimerizable PHA and T2.3 Characterization and data collection (physic-chemical, rheological, thermal, mechanical etc.) of selected synthesized.
• WP 6 (Digital tools, modelling and simulation): T6.1 Support from atomistic simulations.
• WP 7 (Biodegradation and biosynthetic recycling): T7.1 Biodegradation and ecotoxicity.