In the latest episode of Behind SafeTouch: Meet the Consortium, we speak with Nuno from A4TEC, the partner leading laboratory validation for SafeTouch’s smart, self-decontaminating microfilms.
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.
A4TEC’s role in SafeTouch is clear: prove in the lab that the films do two things at once — effectively inactivate bacteria on high-touch surfaces and remain safe for people to touch. As Nuno explains, demonstrating both outcomes is essential if the technology is to move from prototypes to real-world use in hospitals and beyond.
“We need to show in controlled conditions that the films kill bacteria on surfaces like door handles — and at the same time confirm they are safe for human contact.”
He also points out why SafeTouch takes a different path from conventional cleaning or passive surface treatments. Manual disinfection is easily undone the moment a surface is touched again, and passive modifications are often not fully effective. The SafeTouch approach triggers an instant thermal pulse after each touch, rapidly returning the surface to a hygienic state.
“After someone touches the surface, a brief pulse of temperature makes it free of bacteria again — a fast way to keep high-touch points clean between uses.”
Validating this efficacy–safety combination is central to market readiness, particularly for applications in critical environments such as hospitals where reliability and user safety are non-negotiable.
Watch the full interview with Nuno to learn how A4TEC’s testing underpins SafeTouch’s path from the lab to daily use.
This interview is part of the Behind SafeTouch: Meet the Consortium video series, where we introduce the people and expertise shaping this innovative project
