Partners

InnovEN SRL (INNOVEN) / ITALY

InnovEn is an academic spin off company born from the experience gained in years of applied research by professors Franco Cecchi, David Bolzonella and Francesco Fatone, all working at the Department of Biotechnology of the University of Verona.
Main expertises of the team are in the fields of anaerobic digestion of municipal/industrial/agricultural organic waste for energy and material recovery and municipal/industrial wastewaters treatment. The team in InnovEn, due to its academic origin, has a long experience in EU funded projects in the frameworks of Horizon2020 and FP7 as well as in LIFE ENVIRONMENT and Intelligent Energy
Europe (IEE). In the NoAW project, InnovEn will be co-leader of WP3 (2-phase thermophilic system for concurrent production of H2 and CH4 and biogas upgrade with MEC and PHA production), and will be partially involved also in WP1 and WP4.

Website: http://www.innoven.it/

Main contact: David Bolzonella (david.bolzonella@univr.it)

UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA "LA SAPIENZA" (UNIROMA) / ITALY

The Università Degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza” was founded in 1303 and it is the largest university in Europe: there are around 120.000 students enrolled, of which 8.000 coming from abroad, and more than 4.700 professors and researchers. “La Sapienza” offers a vast array of courses including 290 degree programmes at Bachelor and Master level, 78 PhD courses, one to two year professional courses and Specialization Schools, which are run by 63 Departments and 11 Faculties.  In the frame of European Research, “La Sapienza” participated to 218 FP7 projects, including 37 PEOPLE Marie Curie Actions and, with respect to Horizon2020, it has already had 32 projects approved, including 9 MSCA.

Website: https://www.chem.uniroma1.it/en

Main contact: Mauro MAJONE (mauro.majone@uniroma1.it)

Project Partner(s):

ALMA MATER STUDIORUM – UNIVERSITÀ DI BOLOGNA (UNIBO) / ITALY

The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is the oldest university in Western Europe. Nowadays, it still remains one of the most important institutions of higher education across Europe with 11 Schools, 33 Departments and about 87.000 students, within a multicampus structure. UNIBO places special emphasis on the excellence in education and research: activities are related to 212 Degree Programmes, 40 International degree programmes, 53 PhD programmes, 50 specialisation schools, 61 first and second level professional master’s programmes.
Strengthening the internal network, creating interdisciplinary critical masses of scientists is one the major goals for UNIBO. Activities related to European funding programs are supported by the European Research and Innovation Office, with more than 10 years’ experience on European projects, assisting research groups in the whole project lifecycle. On the European side, UNIBO is member of the major European Networks, stakeholders thematic groups and research and innovation initiatives, such as ETP Suschem, PPP Spire, ECRA and participated in FP7 with more than 230 funded projects (coordinator in 58). In the first year of Horizon 2020, UNIBO won 44 projects for a total budget of over 14 m€.
Three research units are involved in the NoAW. The Polymer Science group, belonging to the DICAM Department, is expert in synthesis of bio-based monomer, polymers and advanced materials. The Biotechnology group of DICAM has expertise in the development of biotechnological anaerobic and aerobic processes, for the valorisation of food processing byproducts. The Plant Biotechnology group of the BIGEA Department offers expertise in characterization (metabolomics, proteomics and biological activity assays) and isolation of biomolecules from plant bio-wastes/byproducts.

Website: www.unibo.it

Main contact: Annamaria CELLI (annamaria.celli@unibo.it)

Project Partner(s):

CONFAGRICOLTURA – CONFEDERATION OF FARMERS (GCIA) / ITALY

It is the organization that represents and protects Italian agricultural enterprises. It acknowledges the leading role of agricultural entrepreneurs in the establishment and development, both economic, technological and social, of the Italian agriculture and agricultural businesses.

It also deals with matters related to young and elderly agricultural entrepreneurs, who are represented, within the organization, by ANGA (National Association of Young Agriculturalists) and the National Union of Pensioners.

Confagricoltura is part of COPA – European Agricultural Union, GEOPA – Employers’ Group of Professional Agricultural Organizations, and CES (EESC – European Economic and Social Committee).

Website: www.confagricoltura.it

Main contact: Daniele Rossi (d.rossi@Confagricoltura.It)

INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHÉ AGRONOMIQUE (INRA) / FRANCE

INRA is ranked the number one agricultural research institute in Europe and number two in the world, INRA carries out with 8290 permanent staff, mission-oriented research for competitive and sustainable agriculture, high-quality and healthy foods, and a preserved and valorized environment.
The reduction of agricultural and food wastes and losses, is the top priority of INRA strategic agenda (GloFood program). For example, in EU FUSION project, INRA has undertaken a large study to identify agro-wastes sources at the farm level and at immediate post-harvest stages.
In NoAW, INRA will joint multi-disciplinary forces from four different
Joint Research Units, in close cooperation with official authorities of agro-waste management at European, national and local levels, especially through RIS3 (Research and Innovation Smart Specialization Strategies): IATE (biorefinery, green chemistry, biotechnology, agro-polymers and knowledge engineering), SPO (phenolic biomolecules and winery wastes), LBE (environmental biotechnology, agro-waste and bio-energy) and MOISA (socio economy, circular economy). Consequently, INRA is involved in WP1 (database), WP2 (decision support), WP3 (biogas), WP4 (agro-waste polymers and molecules) and WP5 (industrial ecology), but also in the demonstration, communication and management WPs (6, 7, 8).

Website: http://www.inra.fr/

Main contact: Prof. Nathalie GONTARD (nathalie.gontard@inra.fr)

Project partner(s):

ASSOCIATION POUR L’ENVIRONNEMENT ET LA SÉCURITÉ EN AQUITAINE (APESA) / FRANCE

APESA’s force lies in our team of forty people made of engineers, specialized technicians, environmental and security jurists, and experts in animation and communication. We have obtained the ISO 9001(2008 version) and 14001 (2004 version) certifications for our Quality Health Safety and Environment Management System. The Ministry of Higher Education and Research has labeled our Innovation and Technological center: CRT, technological eco-innovation resource center.

Our Technical Platform, with over 15 years’ experience, is the experimentation support for helping APESA Technologies team (5 engineers and 4 technicians) in his R&D activities. On our platform, we are able to fulfill a large range of experimentations and tests to check the feasibility of our customers’ projects at various TRLs. The main idea is to test an entire biorefinery chain for waste management processing, since the deposit until the quality of the downstream product (i.e digestate, compost, biochar…). The technical platform has at his disposal a set of advanced equipments to realize its R&D activities in various fields: biomasses characterization, anaerobic digestion, composting, agronomy and effluents treatments. Under the APESA, we have also a team specialized on development of eco-innovative and friendly environmental solutions that could assess for our customers economical and LCA analysis of the developped processes.  Furthermore, we participate to R&D projects and welcome PhD students to be in advance in our activities. Our technical center is recognized in sustainable development solutions and represent an ideal solution for both private and public platforms.

Website: http://www.apesa.fr/

Main contact: Florian MONLAU(florian.monlau@apesa.fr)

Project Partner(s)

UNIVERSITY OF MONTPELLIER (UM) / FRANCE

University of Montpellier (UM) is a research-intensive university where education and research cover most of the Scientific and Technological fields. UM gathers around 41000 students and 4300 staffs with an overall budget of 380 million euros. In terms of innovation UM is linked to 8 Competitiveness Clusters in the Region Languedoc Roussillon. UM is one of the four owners of the JRU (Joint Research Unit) IATE (Agropolymers Engineering and Emerging Technology). UM-IATE has a strong expertise on the development of integrated applications of knowledge, information and technologies to ensure food quality and safety by considering all the food/processing/packaging system (database development, expert and numerical data processing, modelling and knowledge presentation, decision-making tool), on the development of decision support system (for helping the user to chose the right packaging material based on multi-criteria querying) and on the valorization of agroresources for the development of active and biodegradable materials. UM-IATE was recently involved in the FP7 EcoBioCap project aiming at developing composite packaging materials whose components were all derived from food industries by-products able to ensure food quality and safety, human health, economical competitiveness and reduce overall environmental impact. UM-IATE was also involved in NovelQ (Novel Processing Methods for the Production and Distribution of High-Quality and Safe Foods) and incoNANOPACK 6IP projects, in charge of food packaging interactions and nanocomposites materials development, as well as in numerous others projects related to food such as the Network of excellence HIGHTECHEUROPE, in HEALTHGRAINS IP6 project, in COST868 (Biotechnical functionalization of renewable polymeric materials), COST 865 (bioencapsulation) etc.

Website: www.umontpellier.fr/

Main contact: Hélène ANGELLIER-COUSSY (helene.coussy@umontpellier.fr)

Project Partner(s):

FRENCH VINE AND WINE INSTITUTE (IFV) / FRANCE

IFV (French Vine and Wine Institute) is the French institute of R&D for vine and wine. IFV is a centre of innovation, technology transfer and knowledge dissemination. Another of the IFV’s missions is to manage the cohesion between all the French R&D organization in the vine and wine sectors.

 140 scientists and engineers are in charge of ampelography, agronomic studies, oenology, microbiology, mechanization and so on. They are developing their researches in 18 centres based in all French vineyard areas. Laboratories are officially recognized for agronomy and oenology trials or studies.

IFV is a center of innovation, technology transfer and knowledge transmission destined to the French vine and wine sectors. It helps the cohesion between all the French R&D organization in the vine and wine sectors. Mean qualities of the French Vine and Wine Institute are a range of professional competences covering all the skills needed for the production of wines, a network established in the main French wine regions, multidisciplinary teams with means of experimentation, board members representing all professionals of the wine industry, an interface between professionals and research teams, a capacity to innovate, to transpose and to valorise research results.

IFV works on substainability, on all the steps of the production of grapes and the production of wines. The Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is the method used for the evaluation of the substainability. IFV coordinated a national experimentation on the recovery of oenological by-products.

Distillation, spreading, composting and anaerobic digestion have been studied on technical, economical, environmental and regulatory aspects.

Website: www.vignevin.com

Main contact: Valérie LEMPEREUR (valerie.lempereur@vignevin.com)

Project Partner(s):

Grap’Sud Société Coopérative Agricole (INOSUD) / FRANCE

INOSUD has been specialised for 50 years in the repurposing of vine and wine by-products. Its members as winemakers, bring their by-products (marcs, lees, wines) to the union. These by-products are then transformed into many products to meet the needs of markets such as the Food industry, Oenology, Nutraceutical, Animal feeding, Farming and Industry.

 Strong with this successful experience in the wine-making sector, INOSUD has expanded its scope of action to sorting treatment in fruit stations, throughout its subsidiary NUTRITIS that handles fruits sugars.

 In the NoAW project, INOSUD mission is to provide co-products for the tests in laboratories. INOSUD will also eventually make industrial trials if the project highlights an economically viable process.

Website: www.grapsud.com

Main contact: Nelly URBAN

INRAE Transfert S.A. (IT) / FRANCE

Inrae Transfert is a fully-owned INRAE’s subsidiary founded to exploit INRAE’s research results and innovative technologies, and develop them into concrete business opportunities. IT is a technology transfer company specialised in innovative technologies arising from agriculture-related research. The IT European Projects Department is aimed at strengthening INRAE’s contribution to the implementation of the European Research Area with the mission to help INRAE researchers and partners to setup projects in response to EC calls and manage them when selected by the EC.

Website: http://www.inra-transfert.fr/fr/

Main contact:Luke LAUPRETE

RISE Research Institutes of Sweden / SWEDEN

The RISE institutes Innventia, SP, and Swedish ICT have merged in order to become a stronger research and innovation partner. Through our international collaboration programmes with academia, industry, and the public sector, we ensure the competitiveness of the Swedish business community on an international level and contribute to a sustainable society. Our 2,200 employees support and promote all manner of innovative processes, and our roughly 100 testbeds and demonstration facilities are instrumental in developing the future-proofing of products, technologies, and services. RISE Research Institutes of Sweden is fully owned by the Swedish state.

Website: https://www.ri.se/en

Main contact:  Anna Ekman Nilsson (anna.ekman.nilsson@ri.se)

Project Partner(s):

Agrarberatung Peter Schiessl (SCHIESSL) / GERMANY

Peter Schiessl Agrarberatung offers On-Farm-Research and Consultancy how sustainability can be improved in agricultural practice. A small network of farmers cooperates introducing new technology and evaluate data how this technology effects farming and sustainability.
Former research projects by Schiessl were dealing with sustainability in fuel use, sustainable entrepreneurship in agricultural trade and sustainable manure reuse.
In NoAW Schiessl offers a concept for optimization for digestate use on agricultural level. Therefor a full scale biogas plant located in Fuhrn, Neunburg, Germany (Schiesslhof GbR) will be involved. This plant is presently using manure and straw along with silage (maize and grass) in aerobic digestion, producing 5000 kWh electrical power and 3000 kWh heat (consumed) per day. Digestate usage will be improved using NIR technology. Main focus will be on reducing Nutrient balance for Nitrogen and Phosphate.

Main contact: Peter SCHIESSL (peter.schiessl@tum.de)

FRAUNHOFER IVV (FRAUNHOFER ) / GERMANY

Fraunhofer IVV stands for high-quality food products and safe, effective, and convenient packaging systems. Efficient use of raw materials and minimal environmental impact are priorities in all our development work. We also transfer our technologies and expertise to applications outside the food and packaging industries. Business units cover amongst others functional Materials for food packaging. This includes know-how regarding the selection of materials and their combination in multilayer structures in order to obtain packaging solutions with product specific barrier properties. The work portfolio also considers efficient recycling of by-products and waste via mechanical and extraction processes up to pilot plant scale for isolating plant raw materials efficiently and cost effectively are developed. The resulting fractions, namely oil, protein, soluble dietary fiber, and secondary plant ingredients, can be modified enzymatically, chemically, and physically in order to achieve demanded product functionalities.

Website: https://www.ivv.fraunhofer.de/en.html

Main contact: Dr. Cornelia STRAMM

Project Partner(s):

IBBK FACHGRUPPE BIOGAS GMBH (IBBK) / GERMANY

IBBK was founded in 2001 and is one of the leading providers for international AD training courses worldwide. Additionally IBBK organizes conferences and exhibitions on AD, offers specialized study tours on various AD- related topics which focus on practical experience exchange with plant operators, works as biogas consultants worldwide and participates in EU-funded projects. Hence, IBBK has a very broad knowledge about various AD concepts for different waste and (energy) crop stream including digestate treatment as part of a manure management strategy.

Website: www.ibbk-biogas.com

Main contact: Dipl. Agr.biol.Michael KÖTTNER  (m.koettner@ibbk-biogas.de)

Project Partner(s):

ECOZEPT GBR (ECOZ) / GERMANY

Ecozept is a German-French based, private market research and marketing consulting agency that is engaged, since its foundation in 2000, in the matter of sustainable agro-food markets. A main weight lies on the research and development of market intelligence systems and marketing approaches for the agro-food business (organic products, regional products, typical products, etc.).

During implementation of its projects, Ecozept is attaching much importance to practice related and effective ways. In processes, we seek a direct and close contact to our partners. We create confidence through transparency, openness and on-the-spot support.

Ecozept is part of an active network of similar agencies, governmental institutions, the agro-food industry (foremost SME) and extension services in Germany and France, but as well in other European countries. Out of the team of a dozen agriculture, environmental and marketing experts, eight are working at the headquarter in Freising (Germany) while four persons are based in the French office in Montpellier.

Our marketing consulting designs marketing concepts on strategic and operational level. Here, we work with individual enterprises as well as with clusters, groups and business networks. Supply chain management is one of our main tasks in this domain: we make people, ideas and products match and we organize the cooperation from farm to fork, by innovative and sustainable approaches.

Website: http://www.ecozept.com/

Main contact: Burkhard SCHAER

Project Partner(s):

VERMICON AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (VERMI) / GERMANY

Vermicon AG is an innovative and international solutions’ provider in microbiology. With 18 years of expertise, by its highly qualified team of experts and its powerful technology portfolio, the company is able to meet even complex microbiological challenges. Vermicon provides microbial analyses, testkits and consulting services for the industrial market including waste water (aerobic, anaerobic), waste sludge and other environmental samples.

It combines modern cultivation-independent molecular-biological methods with standard cultivation methods where necessary. VERMI is GMP certified and has a well-equipped microbiological laboratory with L2/S1 biological safety level. VERMI has a staff of 20 people including experts for microbiology and molecular biology. In WP3, VERMI will be involved in the assessment of microbiological and  hygienic parameters of anaerobically digested wastes in full scale and pilot scale
plants.

Website: http://www.vermicon.com/

Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) / DENMARK

The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is ranked as one of the foremost technical universities in Europe. The DTU Department of Management Engineering (DTU-MAN) aims to develop and create value using the natural sciences and the technical sciences to benefit society. The division for Quantitative Sustainability Assessment at DTU-MAN is world leading in the scientific area of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method development and has decades of experience in application of the LCA methodology for environmental and social sustainability assessment of products and services. The main activities of DTU are within WP 2 and primarily involve territorial metabolism/LCA coupling, quite similar to the urban metabolism/LCA coupling DTU has been working with and developing for years.

Website:http://www.dtu.dk/

Main contact:  Stig Irving OLSEN(siol@dtu.dk)

SECTION FOR SUSTAINABLE BIOTECHNOLOGY, AALBORG UNIVERSITY COPENHAGEN (AAU) / DENMARK

The Section for Sustainable Biotechnology (SSB) is a research and education entity of the Department of Chemistry and Bioscience of Aalborg University, placed in Copenhagen. SSB’s integrated research approach is to combine fundamental biotechnology with bioprocess engineering in order to develop biomass conversion systems for the sustainable production of chemicals, fuels and materials (including feed and food). Research is mainly focused on the biochemical conversion of biomass into bioenergy and valuable by-products in biorefinery systems. SSB has expertise in molecular microbiology, bioprocess engineering, anaerobic digestion processes, ethanol and organic acids fermentations, pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass, enzyme discovery and production. The Section for Sustainable Biotechnology at AAU will mainly contribute to WP3 for research on biogas yield improvement from lignocellulosic biomass by pretreatment technology. AAU will cooperate closely with NoAW partner company BioVantage.dk Aps on performing experiments on pretreatment of manure fibers and straw in a pilot-scale facility of BioVantage.dk in Denmark.

Website: https://www.en.aau.dk/

Main contact:  Stefan Ulrich Heiske (sh@bio.aau.dk)

BioVAntage.dk Aps (BV) / DENMARK

BioVantage.dk aps is a Danish technology company founded in January 2015 to exploit the pretreatment IP created by the US company CleanVantage LLC on the European market. In the coming years, the company will demonstrate the AD BoosterTM technology based on the patented Advanced Wet Explosion process (AWEx) for making fibres available for biomethanation. This technology has been shown to increase the biogas yield from
fibre-containing materials such as manure and straw with ca. 50%, which will allow biogas plants to be run with positive economics on manure and other raw materials containing high concentrations of lignocellulosics. Even though the technology has been demonstrated in pilot scale, this will be the first industrial scale demonstration of the AWEx process (pretreatment of 2 ton manure fibre per hour). The AD Booster technology is expected to be game changing for the biogas field due to the economic impact of the process and BioVantage.dk will start
marketing the AD Booster technology in the fall of 2016.
BioVantage.dk will examine relevant biomasses selected for the NoAW project in WP3 using the company’s laboratory and pilot facility to determine the effect of the AD Booster technology for these specific biomasses. The influence of process for conversion of the different fractions of the biomass will be determined with a focus on the effect for conversion of cellulose and lignin in the lignocellulosic fraction. Besides BV will  examine the influence of AD Booster for conversion of the selected raw materials into VFA, hydrogen and C5 and C6 sugars (after enzymatic hydrolysis) of importance for production of biofuels or bioproducts.

Website:  http://biovantage.dk/

INSTITUT ZA ARHITEKTURU I URBANIZAM SRBIJE (IAUS) / SERBIA

The Institute of Architecture and Urban & Spatial Planning of Serbia (IAUS) was founded in 1954 within the Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade. It was established as an independent scientific research organization by the Decision of the Republic of Serbia Executive Council No.N/303 of May 13, 1961. The Institute’s scientific research and professional work is carried out within three organizational units as follows:

• • Center for Architecture and Housing;
  • Center for Spatial Development and Environment, and
  • Center for Information Technology, Publishing Activities and Education.

IAUS has 40 full-time permanent employees of various professional orientations (30 of which are holders of scientific, research or professional titles). It also gathers many visiting associates – experts in specific fields. IAUS has been established with the aim to deal with research and educational work, as well as work on comprehensive projects in the following fields, (among others): improving spatial and urban planning (methodology and techniques, GIS databases and indicators), SEA (strategic environmental impact assessment) and EIA (environmental impact assessment) studies; waste management studies and plans at municipal and regional levels, studies on selecting hazardous waste disposal locations, hazardous waste transport and landfill management (national and regional levels).

Website: www.iaus.ac.rs

Main contact:Boško JOSIMOVIĆ (bosko@iaus.ac.rs)

Poject Partner(s):

Vinarija Aleksandrović (VA) / SERBIA

The winery Aleksandrovic is a wine producer with an annual production of 300 000 bottles and with 75 ha of its own vineyards. Its prime goal is to produce high quality wines. This is attested by many medals acquired at the most prestigious global competitions such as Decanter (London), IWSC (London), Mundusvini (Germany), and AWC (Austria). VA will contribute in WP1 (Task 1.3), WP2 (Task 2.3) and WP7 by providing data for further analysis, defining problems in waste management and implementation of knowledge and inputs.

Website: http://www.vinarijaaleksandrovic.rs/

Campden BRI Magyarország Nonprofit Kft. (CBHU) / HUNGARY

Campden BRI Magyarország Nonprofit Kft. (CBHU) is an independent industrial, non-profit research and development organization providing R+D, knowledge transfer and training services to a large number of food businesses. Key research activities include knowledge transfer to industry, food safety management, food processing and handling with particular focus to cold chain, heat processing, vegetable and meat processing, product development, food chain management, consumer and sensory science. Long experience in auditing food safety management systems, application of food legislation, legality of labelling, implementing capacity building programs for achieving compliance to trade standards and EU food legislation, good overview and understanding of practical problems, where the food industry needs practical solutions. CBHU has a long experience in managing R+D projects with the industry, including SMEs targeted to results applicable in the industry. CBHU participated in more than 40 publicly funded Hungarian and 35 international projects. CBHU has specific experience on working with SMEs and in technology transfer. CBHU staff acted as trainers on DG SANCO HACCP courses for European food control officers (2006- 2013 more than 45 courses). CBHU has developed more than 40 industry best practice guides.

Website: www.campden.hu

Main contact: András SEBŐK (a.sebők@campdenkht.com)

Project Partner(s):

INSTITUTO DE BIOLOGIA EXPERIMENTAL E TECNOLOGICA (IBET) / PORTUGAL

IBET is a private non-profit research intensive institution with the mission to integrate and strengthen biological and biochemical knowledge from its academic and industrial partners into technology and transfer it into economic wealth and job creation. IBET comprises 16 laboratories and a bio pilot plant, with access to fermentation and downstream processing skills and equipment. IBET has coordinated over 20 international projects and has participated as work-package leader in more than 40 projects supported by the EC. IBET has been involved in the production of biopolymers from wastes and wastewaters both at lab scale and pilot scale.

Website: www.ibet.pt

Main contact: Maria REIS(amr@fct.unl.pt)

Project Partner(s):

NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS (NTUA) / GREECE

National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) is the oldest educational institution of Greece in the field of technology, and has contributed unceasingly to the country’s scientific, technical and economic development since its foundation in 1836. The working group of the NTUA, and more specifically of the Unit of Environmental Science and Technology (UEST), belongs to the School of the Chemical Engineering and has a thorough experience in projects concerning waste management, the development, demonstration, optimization and evaluation of prototype waste and wastewater treatment systems, the development of strategic plans for sustainable waste management and the development of decision-making software tools. NTUA (UEST) will have significant contribution to the project activities. Thus, the main activities of NTUA (UEST) are: development of programs for the integrated management of wastewater and solid waste. Design, construction, operation and optimization of lab-scale and pilot-scale prototype systems for the treatment of wastewater, solid and hazardous waste. Environmental impact assessment studies, LCA and eco-design. Preparation and development of inventory programs concerning the generation of solid waste & industrial wastewater, the development of appropriate schemes for the integrated management of municipal solid waste and other priority waste streams at local and national level. NTUA (UEST) works in close cooperation with competent Ministries and other Governmental agencies, as well as various European and International Organizations, providing environmental management inputs for the development and implementation of national strategies and action plans. The laboratory of the NTUA (UEST) has already been certified by EN ISO standard 9001:2008, while it has completed the procedure of accreditation by the Hellenic Accreditation System S.A. (E.SY.D.) according to the standard ELOT ΕΝ ISO/IEC 17025:2005.

In the NoAW program NTUA (UEST) takes part in the investigation:

• Of enzymatic saccharification and detoxification of straw prior to anaerobic digestion (AD).
• Of the effect of pretreatment and process operating parameters in a pilot scale AD reactor.

Of the bioethanol production from the anaerobically digested straw through the enzymatic utilization of the remaining fibre, in order to add value to the AD process through the exploitation of digestate as a bio-energy source.

Website: www.uest.gr

Main contact: Professor Maria Loizidou (mloiz@chemeng.ntua.gr)

Project Partner(s):

SOFIES SA (SOFIES ) / SWITZERLAND

Sofies is a sustainability consulting and project management firm. We serve corporate, public and international organisations from our 4 locations (Bangalore, Geneva, Paris and Zurich). Our team of 30+ consultants works internationally with a broad network of specialists.

Sofies develops activities in six fields of intervention: Land Resource Development, Waste & Resources, Alternative Energy, Agro Value Chains, Industrial Ecology & Circular Economy, Eco-innovation strategies and sustainability in companies. Our DNA: linking systems, processes and actors based on the 4 strategic goals of Industrial Ecology

In its projects, SOFIES SA intervenes at 5 levels of competences:

• Strategy: Reporting and KPIs, transdisciplinary approaches
• Assessment: Carbon footprint, Life Cycle Assessment, Material Flow Analysis, GIS
• Participatory planning and decision making processes: Stakeholder / project integration and coordination, Process and workshop facilitation, negotiation and conflict resolution
• Project implementation, services: Business models, project finance, project management,
  project coaching, technology transfer and implementation
• Capacity building and knowledge transfer: professional training, applied research projects

Website: http://sofiesgroup.com

Main contact: Anne VERNIQUET (anne.verniquet@sofiesgroup.com)

Project Partner(s):

WAGENINGEN FOOD & BIOBASED RESEARCH (WFBR) / THE NETHERLANDS

Wageningen Food & Biobased Research develops insights and technologies that support companies, governments and other research institutes in creating innovative solutions for a healthier, more sustainable and prosperous world. We partner in the creation and production of healthy and tasty foods, of truly-sustainable food chains, and in developing chemicals and materials that use biomass instead of fossil resources. In-depth knowledge of the entire chain, from raw materials through processing to end product, drives our approach.

Wageningen Food & Biobased Research is part of Wageningen University & Research, with the aim to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life. Our researchers have direct access to the latest scientific findings and have a firm grasp of what modern technology offers. Making smart connections between various disciplines, we investigate and develop at all stages: upscaling from lab to pilot and from initial idea to the production processes that deliver real products for our customers. To fulfil our promise, we ensure that the solutions we create are applicable in daily practice.

In the NoAW project WFBR’s primary focus is on business models and marketing concepts. We specifically address challenges related to sector interconnections and gearing up for market/business opportunities.

Website: http://www.wur.nl/en/Expertise-Services/Research-Institutes/food-biobased-research.htm

Main contact: Jan Broeze (jan.broeze@wur.nl)

Project Partner(s):

AGRIPORT A7 BV (Agriport) / THE NETHERLANDS

Agriport A7 is a modern project site for large-scale greenhouse and open field crops. Central, a new business park has been created in the production. The clustering of large-scale production of fresh vegetables, processing and logistics Agriport A7 is considered the most modern Agropark world.

Through cooperation within the supply chain, supply chain integration and cross-overs between different chains creates good opportunities for the use of waste products (heat, process water, CO2) of businesses in the area. This is not only good for the environment, but also an excellent opportunity to reduce costs and enhance competitiveness.

On the agropark we make intelligent use of each other’s knowledge, residuals and by-products.

Different kind of agricultural and logistic companies are brought together and interconnected within the agropark. This not only enables the companies to supply food, but clever processing of residual and by-products also create opportunities for new agricultural services such as energy production and water purification. One company uses the waste material of another as a raw material and a source of energy.

Website: www.agriporta7.nl

Main contact: Anton HIEMSTRA (a.hiemstra@agriporta7.nl)

Project Partner(s):

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE INCORPORATED (ITRI) / TAIWAN

Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is a nonprofit R&D organization engaged in applied research and technical services. In addition to its headquarters in Taiwan with a staff of 6000 engineers, ITRI also has 4 liaison offices abroad- in Silicon Valley, Tokyo, Berlin and Moscow to extend its reach across the globe.

ITRI focuses on six research fields, covering ICT, electronics & optoelectronics, material, chemical and nanotechnology, medical device and biomedicine, mechanical & systems, green energy and environment. ITRI is also keen on smart technology and green solutions that can improve life quality and protect the environment. Our project team has extensive experiences in the modification and processing of bio-based polymers for food and electronic packaging applications. Novel bio-based additives were developed for enhancing processibility and performance of bio-based polymers. In some cases, studies were carried out from laboratory to pilot production and manufacturing evaluation. Its laboratories are equipped with the state-of-art synthesis, polymer processing and characterization facilitates as well as pilot plants.

ITRI has played a vital role as Taiwan shifted from labor-intensive into a technology-driven economy. ITRI has joined roughly 10 European projects, including 6th, 7th Framework programs and Horizon 2020.

Website: https://www.itri.org.tw/eng/

Main contact: Guang-Way Bill Jang (billjang@gmail.com )

SCHOOL OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT, CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG (SEE) / HONG KONG

The School of Energy and Environment (SEE) – the first and still the only one in Hong Kong – was founded in July 2009 with the mission to perform cutting-edge research and provide professional education in energy- and environment-related issues. Never before have such issues become so important worldwide, and they are in fact on the top agenda of every region/country. The School is therefore designed to tackle this interactive relationship between energy and environment through the development of new scientific understanding and new technologies as well as the training of new professionals with broad knowledge in the areas of energy and environment.

Dr Lin’s team at the City University of Hong Kong has a wide and in depth knowledge of handling food waste and related feedstocks. This knowledge and expertise will be extremely useful to other research team members enabling them to handle and process the raw material correctly, without contamination and reach their production objective in the short time schedule proposed in the project schedule.

Website: http://www6.cityu.edu.hk/

Main contact: Dr. Carol Sze Ki LIN (carollin@cityu.edu.hk)

Project Partner(s)

Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU) / CHINA

The School of Environmental Science and Engineering (SESE) was founded in 2002 at SYSU (one of the Top 10 universities in China). Since its establishment, SESE is dedicated to research and technology development of environmental pollution control and remediation in southern China. Since 2003, SESE has established a long-term collaboration with University of Lorraine (UL) and INRA. Seven China-France International Symposium on Environmental Remediation have already been successfully held. Deep exchange and communications were conducted in such fields including transfer and dynamics of pollutants in the environment, soil pollution control and remediation, and pollution risk assessment. SYSU will contribute to WP1, WP2, and WP7.

INSTITUTE OF AGRO-PRODUCTS PROCESSING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, CHINESE ACADEMY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENDES (IAPPST) / CHINA

Authorized by the State Council, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Science and Technology, IAPPST was founded in December, 2003. Through 11 years’ development, this Institute has built a solid foundation in the aspects such as discipline construction, research platform building, talents team formation, scientific project establishment, and international cooperation, etc. Dr. Taihua Mu’s lab is mainly interested in comprehensive utilization of food waste, e.g. evaluating food waste in all its components, and investigating ways of converting food waste into value-added by-products (including protein, dietary fibers, pectin, peptides, polyphenols, anthocyanins, etc.). In recent years, this lab also has established expertise in the comprehensive utilization of potato and sweet potato processing byproducts, and some of them have been used in food industries. IAPPST will contribute in WP4  focusing on comprehensive use of potato and sweet potato starch processing waste and alleviate environment pollution, while cooperate with IFV and other partners in WP1 to collect key data for characterizing the main wastes, co- and by-products.

Website: http://iappst.caas.cn/en/

Main contact: Taihua MU

Project Partner(s):

TIANAN BIOLOGIC MATERIALS CO. LTD. (TIA) / CHINA

Tianan is a global leader in PHA production via the fermentation pathway, and it has been offering commercial PHA products to the world since 2004 under the ENMAT brand. Through their proprietary fermentation and extraction technologies, they have achieved industrial scale production of PHA at commercially viable costs.

PS: TIA’s core technology

• • High cell-density cultivation (CDW is higher than 200g/L in 50M3 fermentor)
  • patent about extraction technologies

Method for separating, extracting and purifying Poly-B-Hydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) directly from bacterial fermentation broth.

• • CHINA Patent: ZL02 1 12208.3
  • EU Patent: 1705250
  • USA Patent: 7,582,456,
  • Australia Patent: 2003292860
  • Japan Patent: 4777778
  • Canada Patent: 2,550,204

TIA also bears the national projects:

• • China 12th 5-Year Plan Project 863/Partner, 2011- Present, PHA commercialization
  • China 11th 5-Year Plan Project 863/Partner, 2006-2010, PHA production
  • China 10th 5-Year Plan Project 863/Partner, 2002-2005, PHA production

Main contact: Xuejun CHEN

Project Partner(s):