PhotoReAct is an innovative training network (ITN) for new Early Stage Researchers (i.e. who have not yet obtained their PhD) aiming to make important contributions to the applicability and scalability of photocatalytic processes through the design of novel photocatalysts, new photocatalytic methodologies, cutting-edge technological solutions to enable automation and scalability, and immediate industrial implementation.

The use of visible light energy to induce chemical transformations constitutes a chemoselective and green activation mode of organic molecules. However, implementation of this energy source in organic synthetic methodologies and in the industrial production of fine chemicals has been challenging. The PhotoReAct Innovative Training Network establishes a training network with 10 beneficiaries from academia and 4 beneficiaries from industry to tackle the challenges associated with photocatalysis in a coherent and comprehensive fashion. In total 15 Early Stage Researchers will be trained within the PhotoReAct network. The network will provide them with opportunities to undertake research with the aim to overcome the current limitations towards the applicability and scalability of photochemical transformations. This will be achieved through rational design of novel photocatalysts, the development of new photocatalytic methodologies, improved reactor technology and direct industrial implementation of photocatalytic transformations. Furthermore, the ESRs will be trained in the PhotoReAct graduate school, acquiring scientific, personal and soft skills. All ESRs will perform three secondments, of which at least one is intersectoral and carried out with an industrial partner and a second is international. Consequently, the ESRs will have improved career prospects and a higher employability. Due to the high degree of industrial participation, the PhotoReAct network will provide an innovation-friendly environment where scientific results can grow and become products or services that will benefit European economies. 

PhotoReAct is a network collaboration between the following institutions and companies:
Beneficiaries (hiring ESRs)
-    University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands) - Coordinator
-    University of Saint Andrews (UK)
-    University of Bologna (Italy)
-    University of Leipzig (Germany)
-    Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland)
-    University of Zurich (Switzerland)
-    University of Manchester (UK)
-    Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles (France)
-    University of Pavia (Italy)
-    Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Germany)
-    EcoSynth (Belgium)
-    Johnson Matthey (UK)
-    Cominnex (Hungary)
-    Janssen Research & Development (Spain)

Partner Organizations – who will host secondments of the ESRs
-    CNRS - Laboratoire Hétérochimie Fondamentale et Appliquée (France)
-    Federal University of Santa Catarina (Brazil)
-    Colombia University (USA)
-    University of Michigan (USA)
-    University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA)
-    University of California, Riverside (USA)
-    Université de Montréal (Canada)
-    Tokyo Institute of Technology (Japan)
-    Galapagos (Belgium)
-    Syngenta (Switzerland)
-    Creaflow (Belgium)