Innovate3X - 1
Upcycling Agri-Food Waste Through Upscaling Industrial
Applicability and Business Case Modelling
Initiator: UPC BarcelonaTech
The Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering (CCEM Barcelona) at the UPC BarcelonaTech is a multidisciplinary hub at the forefront of materials science, in the fields of micro and nanoengineering, nanotechnology and biomaterials. Link to the website: https://futur.upc.edu/idioma/en
Desired Outcome:
SMAR3TS project partner - UPC BarcelonaTech and its R2EM research and innovation team at Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering (CCEM Barcelona) are working on tackling the problem of agri-food waste, as well as refining, separation and purification technologies in the labs.
R2EM group is developing research activity on development of sustainable urban and industrial waste management cycles based on resource recovery approaches promoting circular solutions of waste to product and waste to energy. Research also involves efforts on developing environmental remediation solutions for soils and ground water remediation, process and environmental monitoring and environmental risk assessment on ports.
The goal of R2EM team is to advance development of technologies towards technological and societal readiness and scalability. This I3X challenge invites research and innovation talent to contribute to the development of industrial pilots through secondments across the SMAR3TS Consortium.
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Important:
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SMAR3TS Secondments are open only to SMAR3TS Consortium Partners.
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Secondments aligned to any I3X can be undertaken at either the Initiating Parter premises and/or other SMAR3TS Consortium Partner premises.
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Regardless of where you are undertaking work on an I3X, you are obligated to ensure the aligned I3X Initiator Project Contact, Lead / Responsible aligned Work Package Leader, as well as the SMAR3TS Project Management Team are kept fully up-to-date with the progress of your contribution to your secondment aligned I3X - Refer to the detailed information 'About Secondments - What are Secondments'.
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This I3X is looking for skills and capabilities across disciplines aligned to:
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​​​​Development of industrial pilots with cosmetic, pharma and food industries
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Advanced knowledge of separation and purification processes for critical raw material extraction
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Business case modelling scenarios
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Further development of technologies (e.g., in smart film food packaging)
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Examples of Challenges that Need to be Addressed
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Testing and applicability of technologies in the industry (e.g., testing the upcycling process of agri-food waste for fuel production, chemicals and materials, feed and food ingredients)
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Business case modelling and scalability assessment scenarios of upcycling agri-food waste (e.g., on the Spanish market in olive oil; winery; fruits and juices industries)
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Regulatory assessment scenarios - EU level
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Domain - Bio-based Economy: building the value chain for antioxidants production
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Testing the recovery processes of polyphenols from agri-food waste including olive oil and wine industries through a circular economy
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Validation of extraction, clean-up and concentration of polyphenol extracts from olive and wine waste (in connection with LIFE CYCLOPS projects)
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Market and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
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Test of bioactive polyphenols in industry
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Collaboration in wastewater valorization and material recovery
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Soil quality and waste recycling processes
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Digital technologies for food waste reduction and improvement of food logistics
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Development of food systems
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Open Innovation and business model innovation - role of technologies (e.g., AI) in agrifood systems
Initiator Institution (UPC) Contact for this I3X
​​​Contact: Prof. Jose Luis Cortina, jose.luis.cortina@upc.edu
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Alignment to SMAR3TS Work-Package/s
SMAR3TS domains that are relevant to the work of UPC BarcelonaTech organization/research and innovation team are:
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Lead / Responsible Work Package - Nutrition: e.g., upcycling process of agri-food waste, sustainable food packaging
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SMAR3TS Nutrition Work Package Lead Contact: Assoc. Prof. Letizia Mortara, University of Cambridge, lm367@cam.ac.uk
With some alignment to: ​
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Energy: energy recovery, energy transition, reducing energy consumption
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Mobility: sustainable mobility and digitalization, processes for critical material recovery and reuse in the mobility sector
Alignment to Resilience, Restoration, Regeneration (R3)
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Regenerative food production and recycling
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Regeneration processes in the pyrometallurgical industry
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Restoration: recovery and reuse critical raw materials for the future of mobility
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Restoration: maximizing water reuse and water recovery through smart, circular and integrated solutions for sustainable energy use and production
NOTE:
Click here for instructions on how to plan for a secondment.
Related Keywords
Industrial Technologies, Waste to energy other, Agriculture and Marine Resources, Agrofood Industry, Technologies for the food industry, Food Processing, Food Technology, Waste to Energy /Resource, Market research, Business Planning, Food and Beverages, Nutrition, Business case modelling, UPC BarcelonaTech.