Metrology of Carbohydrates for Enabling European Bioindustries

Project Information

CARBOMET

Grant agreement ID: 737395

DOI

10.3030/737395

Project closed

EC signature date 22 November 2016

Start date 1 January 2017

End date 30 June 2021

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)

Total cost

€ 496 607,50

EU contribution

€ 496 607,50

Coordinated by

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - CARBOMET (Metrology of Carbohydrates for Enabling European Bioindustries)

Reporting period: 2019-01-01 to 2021-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

CarboMet will foster and drive collaboration, cross-fertilisation and communication among stakeholders to facilitate a uniform approach to the metrology and/or measurement of carbohydrates for exploitation in biopharmaceuticals, diagnosis of disease and precision medicine, food and personal care and sustainable material BioIndustries. This was achieved through a consolidated approach towards the modification of key emerging technologies or identification of radically new technologies currently unforeseen by technology roadmaps. CarboMet used a range of communication and dissemination tools (meetings, workshops, website, surveys, briefing papers) to engage with key stakeholders, to establish the current emerging technologies, limitations, and barriers to implementation. Priority areas, future challenges, and a wish list of capabilities was defined, culminating in the production of the Glyco 2030 roadmap, setting out a Europe-wide vision.

To ensure the continuation of the CarboMet action, the team launched the European Glycoscience Community (EGC) network to enact and implement the priority and policy areas identified in the Glyco 2030.

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

CarboMet organized 7 workshops and attended several meetings and conferences to promote carbohydrate metrology and support the glycoscience community in Europe. Workshops in biopharmaceuticals (D1.2) diagnostic and precision medicine, gut microbiome and healthy living (D2.2) and, carbohydrate as sustainable materials (D3.2) brought key players from industry giving an industrial focus as well as providing a forum for the CarboMet community to network and engage with industry. These meetings and training workshops provided a platform to share ideas and support the publication of policy papers (D4.1).

A core objective of the CarboMet project is the development of an online platform to engage with identified stakeholders. The CarboMet website was established by M3 providing an overview of the project aims and objectives. An interactive map and bioinformatics section was included to engage with the glycoscience audience. After several designs of the map and toolbox, a visual and interactive toolbox was implemented. This was periodically updated (D1.1,1.4 2.1 2.3 3.1) to ensure the latest data was captured and available online (D1.3). The website has >20,000 unique visitors since its launch in March 2017.

The team engaged in working closely with policymakers in Europe, sharing briefing and technical papers published by CarboMet in meetings. CarboMet, in particular, worked closely with the European Technology Platform on Sustainable Chemistry and Biotechnology (SusChem) to lobby policymakers and to include topics on carbohydrate metrology in the new strategic innovation and research agenda (SIRA) document. As a result, the SusChem SIRA contains key projects of direct relevance to the objectives of CarboMet and consequently has been endorsed at the launch meeting in late November 2019 in Brussels. These projects include novel degradable and biodegradable carbohydrate-based polymers, the metrology of speciality carbohydrates and their role in the health of the human microbiome, in vitro synthetic biology vis a vis metabolic engineering in manufacture of novel biomolecules including glycans (APIs, Foods), and sustainable agricultural practice including soil metagenomics, glycomics and transcriptomics).

WP7 was included as a response to providing resources and knowledge transfer in infectious disease and the role of glycoscience in understanding Sars-CoV-2. CarboMet launched the EGC Webinar series during this period in June 2020 to support collaboration knowledge transfer due to the cancellation of in-person meetings and conferences. CarboMet hosted 22 Webinars with an average attendance rate of 58 %. The Webinar series along with CarboMets continued engagement with the community led to the formation of the EGC network (www.euroglyco.com).

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)

Objective 1 Establish a European Glycoscience User Group, a large group of experts drawn from all relevant disciplines and sectors that facilitates the exchange of non-competitive metrological know-how between stakeholders. CarboMet has brought together a group of experts from a number of academic institutions as well as industry representatives from the 4 BioIndustry Sectors, policy makers and economists, including the following companies: BASF, Bio-Shape, Covance, Dextra, DSM, Elicityl, Fermentalg, Friesland Campina, Glycomix, GlycoSeLect, GSK, Inbiose, Intellihep, LGC, Ludger, MedImmune, Nestec, Polymaris Technology, Prozomix, Sanofi, TdB Consultancy, UCB, Unilever, Waters - 480 members have joined CarboMet LinkedIn group where they have received regular updates on the progress and initiatives of the project. The European Glycoscience Community (EGC) was launch in June 202 to ensure the continued development of the programme and stakeholders are engaged in the long-term. The EGC network will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration in the Glycoscience field.

Objective 2 Identify Common Scientific and Technical Challenges in each of the 4 BioIndustry Sectors using as tools the 3 Enabling Technology Areas and assess their relevance of these challenges to the other BIS. CarboMet has identified a number of common strategic scientific and industrial challenges. These challenges identified through CarboMet workshop discussions have been captured in 4 positioning papers on ‘Targeting Antimicrobial Resistance with Carbohydrate-Based Vaccines’ and ‘The Essential Roles of Carbohydrates in Promoting Gut Microbiota Function Through All Stages of Life’, 'Glycomics in diagnostics and precision medicine' and 'Future of carbohydrates in sustainable materials'.

Objective 3 Establish a Common Vision, Roadmap for 2030 and an Associated Implementation Plan – to enable European Bioindustries to achieve global leadership for the delivery of standardised carbohydrate and glycoconjugate metrology methods. The Glyco 2030 roadmap was published in November 2020 after extensive consultation with the Glycoscience community in Europe.

Objective 4 Through Knowledge Exchange Activities Facilitate the Formation of a Cross- Sectorial Glycoscience Metrology Platform – CarboMet will draw on the actions and activities described in Obj. 2 & 3 to create a Knowledge Platform on Glycoscience priorities and challenge areas. The project has engaged with members of the NMIs to ensure identified technical challenges in carbohydrate metrology is being explored.

Objective 5 Establish Parallel Initiatives to Address Glycoscience Challenges - Establish a dedicated CarboMet website highlighting funding opportunities and related programmes. The CarboMet website was established early in the project which has seen >9000 visitors. The website has highlighted funding opportunities, other EU research programmes, case studies and a dedicated resource page providing access to white papers, reports and previous roadmaps.

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