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Elevated Pressure Sonication (EPS) for the non-thermal processing of new Extended Shelf Life products for adding value in the Dairy industry

Project description

New method to improve extended shelf life of dairy products

The dairy industry faces multiple challenges as regards safety and quality of products, energy consumption and waste production. There is also pressure to ensure products such as ultra-pasteurised milk have an extended shelf life (ESL). The EU-funded EPSTech project has developed ‘Elevated Pressure Sonification’ (EPS). This patented method offers ESL products a similar flavour to fresh ones, while deactivating microorganisms and amplifying the nutritional profile. This innovation also reduces energy use and waste production and cuts down production time by half. The project aims to conduct a technical feasibility study targeting commercialisation of the project on a global level.

Objective

SERETech Ltd., has developed a disruptive non-thermal method of killing bacteria using a combination of elevated pressure CO2 and low intensity sonication. We have called this patented technology ‘Elevated Pressure Sonication’ (EPS). EPS is a market creating innovation that brings a step change to the Dairy Industry by enabling the production of new Extended Shelf Life (ESL) products that offer a flavour profile similar to their fresh counterparts thanks to the ability to achieve safety with a reduced thermal load. Our innovation can effectively inactivate microorganisms and spores at 40-50ºC, resulting in products with an extended shelf-life of at least a 4-fold increase with enhanced nutritional and sensorial profiles, as well as obtaining 5-fold reductions in energy usage compared to currently used pasteurisation processes and cutting process times by half. Moreover, the application of the technology to side-streams (buttermilk, whey and desludge) enables their recovery, thereby reducing waste, improving resource efficiency, increasing yields and enabling processors to leverage Circular Economy models. This novel solution has enormous potential to address and overcome key commercial, technical, social and environmental challenges that are faced by the dairy industry worldwide.
The technology has been developed to pilot scale and demonstrated in industry to TRL6. Our aim is to leverage the SMEI to scale up to a customer fit-for-use continuous modular flow unit that will be suited to easy retrofit in existing dairy processing plants, and to commence commercialization in the global dairy industry as a first application (extending the applications then to other beverage processing and brewing). In Phase 1, we aim to perform an application-focused technical feasibility study in cocreation with industry early adopters, an assessment of the regulatory requirements for commercialisation, and a comprehensive market assessment that will inform our 5-year business plan.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Coordinator

SERE-TECH INNOVATION LIMITED
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address
59-61 CHARLOTTE STREET ST PAULS SQUARE
B3 1PX BIRMINGHAM
United Kingdom

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
West Midlands (England) West Midlands Birmingham
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00
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