Pre kick-off meeting

🌱 Launching the BIOBIT project

BIOBIT project is a trilateral research project (2026-2029) between Politechnika Warszawska, Technische Universität Wien and Universiteit Antwerpen.

On September 16th, 2025 BIOBIT project held his pre kick-off meeting between the 9 core partner members:

– from WUT’s side: PI Prof. Jan Król, co-PI Dr. Katarzyna Konieczna & Dr. Adam Liphardt;
– from UAntwerp’s side: PI Prof. Wim Van den bergh, co-PI Dr. Georgios Pipintakos & Dr. Reza Omranian & Dr. Christina Makoundou;
– from TUWien’s side: PI Dr. Johannes Mirwald and co-PI Prof. Bernhard Hofko.

🔬 About the project

This project investigates the potential of bio-materials as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based bitumen. The research focuses on how bio-materials from different renewable sources influence the mechanical, chemical and structural properties of bituminous binders, their durability and aging behaviour, and how effectively their performance can be evaluated through advanced testing frameworks. In addition, the project explores the compatibility of bio-materials with bitumen and assesses their environmental impact and recyclability to support more sustainable road pavement technologies.

🚀 Project development

BIOBIT is going to recruit additionally 3 new PhDs, 2 hpostdocs and 1 technician, will purchase 2 DSC devices and 1 TG device, with a total project budget exceeding 2 million Euros.

🤝 Funding

The official starting date of the project has been set on January 2026. The joint project is funded by NCN Narodowe Centrum Nauki, Research Foundation Flanders – FWO, and Austrian Science Fund FWF under the OPUS LAP/WEAVE funding scheme.