In the first episode of our interview series, Behind SafeTouch: Meet the Consortium, we speak with Prof. Nikos Chronis of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), the coordinating partner of SafeTouch.
Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, SafeTouch aims to revolutionise hygiene through the development of smart, self-decontaminating microfilms for high-touch surfaces in hospitals, public spaces, and transportation.
As the project coordinator, NTUA is responsible not only for technical leadership and overall management but also for spearheading the core technology behind SafeTouch: the iSafeTouch (iST) microfilms. These flexible, glass-based surfaces integrate ultrafast microheaters that reach up to 150°C in less than a second – fast enough to eliminate pathogens on contact, while remaining safe to human touch.
“This surface can reach temperatures up to 150°C in less than a second… And even while it’s active, if you touch it, you don’t get burned,” explains Prof. Chronis. “It’s about instant disinfection, using minimal energy, in a way that’s safe for people and effective against pathogens.”
NTUA is also leading the effort to make the films flexible and robust, so they can adapt to curved surfaces and withstand millions of thermal cycles without degrading. This includes addressing complex material challenges such as combining heat resistance with flexibility, a key step toward large-scale, real-world deployment.
Watch the full interview to learn more about NTUA’s vision, technical insights, and their leadership in driving SafeTouch forward.
This interview is part of the Behind SafeTouch: Meet the Consortium video series, where we introduce the people and expertise shaping this innovative project
