• networking - organizing and coordination of the network of scientific, industrial and governmental institutions aimed at enhancing of cooperation between them and yielding joint projects leading to: obtaining grants, publishing scientific papers, formulating patents and organizing spin-offs; contacts with other Centers specializing in related topics will be established and twinning proposals will be formulated
  
• organization of international and local conferences and workshops - stimulating exchange of scientific and technological ideas, bringing together people from different areas and countries
  
• organizing short-term visits for senior and junior scientists - helping in establishing contacts aimed at formulating new research projects capable of obtaining funds from local sources and the European Commission (e.g. the framework programs)
  
• publishing a scientific journal - the Center is already involved in preparing, editing, printing and providing via the internet of "Materials Science". The journal - which covers various aspects of new, advanced materials - is a perfect medium for achieving increase in the scope and impact of the envisaged network.

The research team is actively involved in designing, production, investigations and applications of various materials of the sol-gel origin. Examples of the main thematic areas:

• optical sensors (optodes);
• non-linear optoelectronics;
• nanospheres;
• photonic materials
• biological sensors
• The research team:

• M.Sc. Beata Borak
• M.Sc. Agnieszka Hreniak
• Ph.D. Marek Jasiorski
• Ph.D. Katarzyna Kozłowska
• M.Sc. Róża Kornak
• M.Sc. Anna Łukowiak
• Ph.D. D.Sc. Krzysztof Maruszewski
• M.Sc. Iwona Zaręba-Grodź

Management Board

• prof. K. Maruszewski; The Center of Excellence Scientific Coordinator
• prof. W. Stręk; Leader 1 - Scientific Projects: grants, spin-offs, etc.
• prof. M. Rybaczuk; Leader 2 - Events: visits, conferences, etc.
• prof. J. Kaleta; Leader 3 - Informations: database, booklets, etc.
• prof. J. Sworakowski; "Materials Science" journal

The Center Office
dr. M. Jasiorski, dr. K. Kozłowska

Supervisory Board
The supervisory Board guides and advices the Management Board in its efforts in leading, coordination and expanding of the SGM&N Center of Excellence. The Supervisory Board consists of:

• Prof. M. A. Aegerter Institut für Neue Materialien - INM Im Stadtwald, Gebäude 43 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
• Prof. J. Holsa University of Turku FIN-20014 Turku, Finland
• Prof. A. Kłonkowski University of Gdańsk Sobieskiego 18/19 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland
• Prof. J. Legendziewicz Wrocław University F. Joliot-Curie 14 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
• Eng. R. Okniński KOLT S.A. Technical-Commerce Firm Ostrobramska 75 04-175 Warszawa Poland
• Prof. M. Opałło Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences Kasprzaka 54/52 01-224 Warszawa, Poland
• Prof. J. Phalippou Laboratoire des Verres - UMR 5587 Universite de Montplier 2 Place E. Bataillon 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
• Prof. R. Reisfeld The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Givat Ram 91904 Jerusalem, Israel
• Prof. M. Bettinelli Universita degli Studi di Verona Strada Le Grazie 15 Verona, Italy