Periodic Reporting for period 2 - PROCESS (Engineering Solutions for the Process Industry)
Reporting period: 2020-08-13 to 2023-08-12
FOR FELLOWS: Provide a cutting-edge research environment to develop PROCESS researchers as the scientific leaders of tomorrow; deliver high quality, tailor-made scientific training to equip Fellows with skills and experience to meet their career goals and address contemporary skill gaps; provide excellent training in transferable skills; provide industry-specific training and placements in dairy and pharmaceutical sectors; and provide an attractive and supportive working environment.
FOR ACADEMIC and INDUSTRIAL HOSTS: Strengthen and raise the excellence and impact of European particulate processing and advanced manufacturing research; build partnerships between academia and industry; opportunity for industry to shape training component to ensure Fellows graduate with industry-relevant skills to fill the growing needs of the food and pharmaceutical sectors; and innovation based on a deeper understanding of key technologies with interdisciplinary knowledge sharing and transfer.
The overall objectives of PROCESS is advanced manufacturing of high volume products and engineering solutions with a particular emphasis on particulate product processing for new products in the dairy and pharmaceutical sectors. Core research focus areas are incorporating process modelling and integrated process control with Process Analytical Technology, heat, mass momentum transfer, hybrid processing and smart data management. From an Industry 4.0 framework perspective: agility, processing and flexibility are promoted. Sharing knowledge and findings between academia and industry was a primary focus and adds value through encouragement of innovation based on a deep understanding of their key technologies. The importance for society is Open Science and Innovation to meet the growing global demand for innovative solutions in the processing sector and employment opportunities. Skilled engineers, scientists and researchers will lead and drive transformational changes in the dairy and pharmaceutical sectors with their expertise in continuous processing, flexibility and process understanding. Optimising the potential in continuous particulate processing and advanced manufacturing will ensure the Irish and EU manufacturing sector remains globally competitive.
This programme was specifically designed to address the fellows' needs and the changing needs. PROCESS programme successfully supported and facilitated the career-advancing activities by the fellows during and after their fellowship. This is very evident by the fellow’s positive feedback provided during and after the programme promoting positive impact it had on their development and future career. After the programme fellows have since progressed with their career in both academic and private sectors. The research experience, skills gained, intersectoral and interdisciplinary exposure and professional networks developed through the PROCESS fellowship enabled the fellows to enhance their career prospects and successfully secure career-advancing positions in Ireland and abroad in the non-academic and academic sectors.
63.6% of PROCESS alumni continue to successful careers in academia across the following countries: Ireland, United States and Japan. 36.4% secured positions in the non-academic sector across 3 countries: Ireland, Canada and Italy. 45.4 % of PROCESS alumni are based abroad, and 54.6% continue their careers in Ireland.