The first, and so far the only, fully international research organisation in Europe in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. INL is the result of a joint decision of the Governments of Portugal and Spain taken ten years ago to establish strong cooperation in ambitious science and technology joint ventures for the future.

Contribution to the project

  • Coordinates the project ensuring objectives accomplishment, knowledge transfer among partners and dissemination of results
  • Co-leads with Bioinicia the WP2 dedicated to the encapsulation of antioxidants and bioactive extracts containing polyphenols and flavones to improve their stability and bioavailability

Exchange of researchers

Bioinicia

The University of Minho, although is a young institution founded only in 1973, is currently one of the most prestigious Portuguese higher education institutions and is gradually becoming more prominent international.

Contribution to the project

  • Supports the monitoring of the project implementation.
  • Co-leads the WP1 with the University of Reading aimed to recover bioactive extracts containing polyphenols and flavones from food wastes and wastages.
  • Brings expertise in the field of ohmic heating treatment for bioactives extraction, emulsification technology for stabilization of bioavailability, and gut and in vitro models for the assessment of bioavailability.

Exchange of researchers

Casa Emma

Evra

Alistair House

Bionicia

Lunds Universitet is a public university, consistently ranking among the world’s top 100 universities. Its research groups in the field of neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases and of new treatments for diabetes are at the forefront of innovation.

Contribution to the project

  • Leads WP4 dedicated to the design, coordination and assessment of diet formulation with antidiabetic activity and improvement of cognition function
  • Deals with the intervention trials to test antidiabetic and cognitive diets

Exchange of researchers

Decorgel

Sonae

Geriatros

The University is represented in the project by the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences of the University of Reading, one of the top Food departments in the UK, ranked fourth in a recent national assessment on research power. It combines international expertise in human nutrition, microbial sciences and food bioprocessing.

Contribution to the project

  • Co-leads WP1 with the University of Minho to evaluate the extraction of bioactive, bringing its knowledge in Colloidal Gas Aphrons.
  • Leads WP3 Formulation and design of food and diets with polyphenols and flavones for elderly people, dealing with sensoria analysis on the incorporation of encapsulated ingredients with the food matrix.
  • Formulates functional diets for diabetes and cognitive disorders of the elderly.

Exchange of researchers

Sonae

Evra

Casa Emma

Decorgel

Sonae is a leader in the Portuguese retail market (food and non-food). Established in 1959, today owns hypermarkets & convenience supermarkets, electronics, stores, fashion stores, cafeteria and restaurants, book shops & stationery, health & wellbeing stores.

Contribution to the project

  • Provides raw materials (strawberry, banana and vegetables) for the extraction of bioactive molecules from wastages.
  • Supports activities related to the encapsulation of bioactives, food formulation and validation of diets.

Exchange of researchers

University of Reading

Lunds Universitet

IATA-Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas

CECOPESCA is the technological centre of ANFACO, the national independent business organisation devoted to sea canned food, involving 245 companies belonging to all the levels of the sea-industry complex. CECOPESCA provide technological services and perform research and innovation in benefit of the associated companies.

Contribution to the project

  • Participates in the validation of final diets and foods formulation designed for the elderly with diabetes and cognitive disorders

Exchange of researchers

Decorgel

Sonae

A&R House (BCL) Ltd

UNITED KINGDOM

Specialised in the processing of a multitude of fruit pomace, with dedicated dryers and cleaners, it offers innovative solutions to fruit pressing waste. It focuses on the valorisation of previously wasted fruit pomace to maintain its essential place in the food chain and keeping it out of the waste bin.

Contribution to the project

  • Provides raw materials for the extraction of bioactives, namely apple pomace and blackcurrant
  • Supports the activities related to the encapsulation of bioactives and food formulations for diabetes and cognitive disorders of the elderly

Exchange of researchers

University of Minho

Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)

The largest Italian free academic Institution, which participates to this project with its Institute of Oenology and Agro-Food Engineering (IOAFE) of the Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science based in Piacenza campus (in the most important agricultural area of northern Italy)

Contribution to the project

  • Evaluates the potential of extraction of bioactive molecules from wastages through enzymatic treatment
  • Participates in the validation of final functional food formulations at the benefit of the elderly with diabetes and cognitive disorders

Exchange of researchers

Decorgel

A&R House

Decorgel is recognized in the market as a reference in the food area. It possess already a large experience in the production and commercialization of fruit preps and other pastry raw materials. As a dynamic, ambitious and innovator company, Decorgel has developed several projects with the support of IFAP, ANI, AICEP and IAPMEI.

Contribution to the project

  • Contributes to the encapsulation of bioactives in order to improve the stability and bioavailability
  • Formulates fortified foods and diets for diabetes and cognitive disorders of the elderly

Exchange of researchers

University of Reading

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Lunds Universitet

Anfaco-Cecopesca

The Novel Materials and Nanotechnology for Food Applications Lab is a research group of 4 senior research scientists and more 7 PhD students, which conducts fundamental and applied research work in the areas of the development of novel biomaterials, active, bioactive and encapsulation technologies with special focus in the application of different nanotechnologies.

Contribution to the project

  • Evaluates the electrospinning technique applied for polyphenols and flavone encapsulation
  • Supports the formulation of foods and diets

Exchange of researchers

Decorgel

Sonae

Bioinicia is an engineering company dedicated to the development and manufacturing of equipment to fabricate novel and nanomaterials. Additionally, Bioinicia offers consulting regarding materials and process development services to universities, research centres and industry.

Contribution to the project

  • Co-leads WP2 evaluating the electrospinning techniques for the encapsulation of polyphenols
  • Participates in the formulation of fortified food for diabetes and cognitive disorders

Exchange of researchers

International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory

Universitade of Minho

EVRA SRL

ITALY

Located in the “Pollino National Park” area, in Basilicata, in the Southern of Italy, known for being a rich area for medicinal plants and for pristine lands, it has been founded in 2007 by a group of food/pharmaceutical sector experts, who decided to locate the factory and operates in the field of medicinal plants from extraction to finished food supplements.

Contribution to the project

  • Provides raw materials (herbal raw material) for the extraction of bioactive molecules
  • Contributes to the encapsulation of of bioactives and functional food formulation for diabetes and cognitive disorders

Exchange of researchers

Universidade do Minho

University of Reading

Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas

Geriatros-SARquavitae, belonging to the Domus group, is a global platform of services aimed at providing comprehensive care to persons in situation of chronicity and dependency. Services provided range from include nursing homes, to day care centres, housing with services, social and health care at home and Telecare.

Contribution to the project

  • Contributes to the formulation of functional food for diabetes and cognitive disorders of the elderly
  • Assesses the functionality of formulated diets and foods

Exchange of researchers

Lunds Universitate

University of Reading

Casa Emma is a wine producing holding, located in at the heart of Chianti Classico, at an altitude of 420m. above sea level. The company grows a wide range of grape varieties and its vineyards are surely among the greatest expressions that a land like Chianti Classico can offer.

Contribution to the project

  • Provides grape pomace for the extraction of bioactives
  • Participates in the encapsulation of bioactives and in the formulation of functional food for diabetes and cognitive disorders of the elderly

Exchange of researchers

University of Minho

University of Reading

Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas

UCP is a young University strongly focused on academic achievement, research and innovation. In the project will be involved the Faculty of Biotechnology (ESB) and specifically its research Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF), whose domains of investigation are primarily well-being of citizens and sustainable development.

Contribution to the project

  • Contributes to the characterization of antidiabetic and cognitive bio-actives from raw materials through the applicaiton of enzymatic pretreatment
  • Co-leads WP5 with the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory finalized to the organization of trainings and seminars
  • Participates to the bioavailability assessment of bioactive molecules encapsulation

Exchange of researchers

Bioinicia

A&R House

Casa Emma

Evra