PlantHUB - Boosting technology transfer and responsible research and innovation (RRI) in plant sciences

Project Information

PlantHUB

Grant agreement ID: 722338

DOI

10.3030/722338

Project closed

EC signature date 16 August 2016

Start date 1 December 2016

End date 30 November 2020

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 2 597 093,27

EU contribution

€ 2 597 093,27

Coordinated by

EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH
Switzerland

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - PlantHUB (PlantHUB - Boosting technology transfer and responsible research and innovation (RRI) in plant sciences)

Reporting period: 2018-12-01 to 2020-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

PlantHUB - Boosting technology transfer and responsible research and innovation (RRI) in plant sciences – captured academic, industrial and regulatory expertise to train Early Stage Researchers (ESR) in skills and competencies necessary to apply RRI in the area of plant breeding and production. The research projects addressed different angles of innovation in plant breeding and production. Research and Innovation (R+I) was performed in association mapping, marker-assisted breeding, high-throughput sequencing and imaging technologies, non-invasive phenotyping, data processing, intelligent lighting systems and isotope analytics.
PlantHUB objectives:
1.Tackling grand challenges with new technologies. New plant breeding technologies are key enablers to insert, desirable traits into plants. High-throughput genotyping and phenotyping platforms allow more efficient and highly targeted selection processes and thereby, shorten the breeding process from 10 to 2 years. However, technology platforms are knowledge and cost intensive. In PlantHUB we enabled technology access and identified frameworks for scalability in future public-private partnerships. We exploited the innovation capacity of a multidisciplinary, inter-sectorial research collaboration.
2: Closing the R&I divide. Collaborative research and knowledge transfer between five world-class universities, one public research organisation, one governmental organisation, seven companies incl. four SMEs: this brought together resources and knowledge from different fields, incl. molecular biology, genomics, bioinformatics, biochemistry, metabolomics, plant physiology, plant ecology, plant evolution, engineering and computational sciences. Programme-wide networking and integration activities initiated further collaborations, incl. 5+ follow-up collaborations and 4+ joint research proposals submitted to Horizon 2020.
3. Apply RRI. In PlantHUB we implemented RRI at different levels (1) train 10 ESRs to build participatory R+I actions (2) practice stakeholder and public engagement (3) train in bioethical considerations relevant to the R+I process.
4. Advancing higher education and career chances of young plant scientists and increase attractiveness of plant science research. For the skill and career development of ESRs we offered training in technical and research skills, technology transfer, innovation management, entrepreneurship, stakeholder & public engagement, Open Data management and bioethics. PlantHUB promoted transnational mobility and integrated a portfolio of training, coaching, networking activities that enables our ESRs to acquire an entrepreneurship perspective and skill set.

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

The first project year was dedicated to the recruitment of 10 ESRs and the implementation of PlantHUB training, mentoring, dissemination, outreach and management processes.
The second project year was devoted to extensive laboratory and field work. All ESRs have been at their industry partner and got accustomed to the industrial environment. We explored possible future collaboration opportunities. The third project year set a strong focus on the research and innovation goals of the projects. Most ESRs completed their training courses and took part in conferences and public engagement activities highlighting their project results. The last project year concentrated on exploitation of project results, reporting and evaluation as well as setting up further collaborations.
WP1: All ESRs were recruited and participated at the PlantHUB training and outreach programme. Three annual meetings were organised and allowed the ESRs and all beneficiaries to present their R&D portfolios and results; to explore possible future collaboration opportunities and discuss the exploitation of project results.
WP2: The consortium worked on different aspects of plant breeding and production, incl. variation (identifying and exploiting genetic diversity for breeding and plant adaptation) and efficiency (increasing the speed and precision of selecting favourable traits). ESRs got accustomed to the technologies and infrastructures used in the different laboratories.
WP3: The programme website was implemented, highlighting latest publications, conference participation and all public engagement activities. The PlantHUB Outreach Plan was implemented to give advice on how to disseminate the research results and how to engage with the public. In total, 44 individual dissemination activities, 25 presentation at conferences, nine Open Access peer-reviewed publications (+14 manuscripts are in progress) and two patent applications.
WP4: PlantHUB training was placed into an entrepreneurial environment of leading public and private organisations. ESRs became aware of new opportunities for business and innovation at hotspots of applied plant breeding and production. In total, 177 individual training activities were reported.
WP5: ESRs and PlantHUB beneficiaries participated in 44 different stakeholder and public engagement activities.
WP6: Two deliverables were prepared and submitted during the period regarding ethical requirement and facilities authorisations.

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)

PlantHUB linked education, research, and innovation in the field of plant breeding and production – combining resources and knowledge from different fields, incl. molecular biology, genomics, bioinformatics, biochemistry, metabolomics, plant physiology, plant ecology, plant evolution, engineering and computational sciences. R+I activities included state-of-the-art association mapping, marker-assisted breeding, high-throughput sequencing, imaging technologies, non-invasive phenotyping, big data processing, intelligent lighting systems and isotope analytics. In summary, ESR 1/2/3/4/ worked on genetic markers and mutant lines, the desired traits now serve as the basis for plant variety development in breeding programs of the industry partners. ESR 5/6/9/10 developed new software, analytical tools and methodologies that have been integrated in work-flows, services and products of the industry partners. The PlantHUB exploitation outcomes include: new plant variety protections, filed patents, product licenses (software), new products and services.

PlantHUB provided a training programme at the interface of plant breeding and production. Industrial partners offered formal and informal learning activities on R&D processes, marketing and quality management. Companies offered site visits. Non-academic partners were significantly represented in all decision bodies. Our ESRs gained competences in innovation management and entrepreneurship and acquired the ability to turn ideas into action. The unique and innovative PlantHUB training in RRI emphasized the need to maximize the social and economic benefits obtained from knowledge generated through public investments and the need to adopt responsible approaches to this task. ESRs were trained to build participatory and responsible RRI actions. The PlantHUB training enhanced the capacity of the ESRs for a cooperation and better inclusion of their research results to economy and society (incl. civic sectors). The PlantHUB consortium published recommendations on RRI in plant sciences research and education on the EU RRI Toolbox incl. methods and tools for Constructive Technology Assessment (CTA), Value-sensitive design (VSD), ethical matrix and demonstration farms.

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