Project description
Sustainably produced mineral supplements for restoring bone density
As we age, we lose our ability to absorb minerals from our diet, and our bone density starts to decline. This can lead to osteopenia and osteoporosis, which are usually treated with calcium supplements. The working hypothesis of the EU-funded geoBone project is that silica mineral supplements may be more efficient at restoring bone density as silica is the main constituent of bone mineralisation. To that end, the team has developed a drinkable supplement that contains high levels of silica in an absorbable form. Interestingly, the base product of this novel supplement is extracted from Icelandic geothermal water and purified and contains no added chemicals.
Objective
The progressive ageing of the population is coming accompanied by a long list of chronic conditions. Among them is the loss
of bone density, a natural process that begins after the age of 30. The risk of fracture grows proportionally to the disruption
of the bone architecture, advancing from minor osteopenia to severe osteoporosis, which is a global public health concern
that affects today 200 million people. In the EU, the costs derived from osteoporotic fractures reach today €37billion.
Although the reason for bone loss in the adult age is poorly understood, it is believed to be due to a lower capability to
absorb minerals from our diet. Thus, in the adult age clinicians recommend the intake of mineral supplements to cover for
the dietary insufficiency. Although most bone health supplements are based on calcium, it is the mineral silica the one with
higher impact on bone mineralization. Despite its recognized effects on bone and connective tissue, its market uptake has
been long hindered due to the low concentration, low bio-availability, inadequate presentation and poor absorption rates of
current supplement products. In response, we at geoSilica have developed geoBone, a silica-rich drinkable supplement that
offers this mineral in high concentrations and in the highest bio-absorbable form. Its properties result from our unique
production method, which purifies silica from the mineral rich water byproducts of geothermal power plants. After validating
the concept and production sustainability, this project aims to take geoBone to market readiness by finalising its
development & industrialising its production process. The Feasibility Study planned in Phase 1 will serve to warrant the
project from all technical, commercial & financial standpoints. Besides bringing huge benefits for society, healthcare and
environment, geoBone will secure the growth of our company. In 5 years from market launch we expect to hire 11 new
people and gain €10 million in profit (ROI 8.2)
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkaline earth metals
- social sciences economics and business business and management business models
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy geothermal energy
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.3.2.4. - Sustainable and competitive bio-based industries and supporting the development of a European bioeconomy
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H2020-EU.3.2.1. - Sustainable agriculture and forestry
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H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
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H2020-EU.3.2.2. - Sustainable and competitive agri-food sector for a safe and healthy diet
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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.
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.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017
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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.
235 REYKJANESBAER
Iceland
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
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.