Bringing a breakthrough e-nose solution on global markets for portable and reliable food safety and quality control

Project Information

Global PERES

Grant agreement ID: 651805

DOI

10.3030/651805

Project closed

EC signature date 17 October 2014

Start date 1 October 2014

End date 31 December 2014

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

ARS LAB UAB
Lithuania

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Global PERES (Bringing a breakthrough e-nose solution on global markets for portable and reliable food safety and quality control)

Reporting period: 2014-10-01 to 2014-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Possibility for a reliable and efficient food quality assessment at a consumer level is of paramount importance globally, both in industrialized and less developed countries as it has tremendous implications in health (avoidance of food poisoning) and economic domains (avoidance of food waste).

Hence, the overall aim of this project, submitted by a high-tech SME, ARS LAB from Lithuania, is to provide a breakthrough solution to the above mentioned societal and economic challenges by delivering fully functional, portable, affordable, market ready, unique and innovative at a world level electronic device (“electronic nose”) to determine the quality and level of freshness of meat, poultry and fish products. Both, standalone and cloud-based device versions will be delivered.
The concept of the PERES e-nose system, including the prototype of the device has already been recognized with the SME Instrument Phase 1 grant (Project ID 651805) , which was the only project in Lithuania that received funding in the first Call of Phase 1 in June 2014. Also, PERES has been awarded European Business Award for National Champions 2014/2015 . Both awards confirm uniqueness and timeliness of the proposed solution as they have been acquired in an extremely competitive process on the EU level.


Within the framework of Phase 1 SME Instrument, feasibility study and a business plan have been prepared by Ars Lab for the e-nose PERES device.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Technical activities covered analysis of requirements for enhanced PERES sensor development in MOS and MEMS technologies. Also, new PERES case design and plastic materials have been considered. Furthermore, software and firmware development have been covered. Moreover, extensive meat and fish testing has been conducted against VOCs. More tests are planned for Phase 2. Validation campaign for the enhanced PERES device with real end-users has been thoroughly planned. Also, a business plan for commercialization of the PERS device has been prepared. It includes different marketing channels, setting-up distributors network as well as production planning. Sales, costs and profits analysis has been conducted.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The technical study proves that it is feasible to mature the PERES device into a full-blown product in Phase 2. The whole production and delivery chain has been planned. Improvement areas have been identified and possible solutions indicated. To this end, extensive testing, both in the lab and in field is planned for Phase 2. Farther analysis of VOCs will be conducted with support of the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute in Vilnius, Lithuania. Its experts have collaborated on the PERES device with Ars Lab and delivered very good results that have been matured into specific food sensing algorithms implemented in the PERES solution. Additional external partners have been identified, to which part of the Phase 2 work will be sub-contracted.

The proposed PERES product will be a unique, first such solution in the world to test food freshness and quality, that is portable, linked to a smartphone and will be offered at an affordable price facilitating its wide usage by the customers worldwide. The feasibility and business study conducted in Phase 1 clearly shows the device’s potential to be matured into a full-blown product in Phase 2 and successfully deployed, promoted and sold on the global markets, generating very good profits for Ars Lab while solving key societal challenges of food poisoning and food waste.

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