The GasFermTEC project aims to recruit an experienced researcher and research manager, to act as an ERA Chair, and lead a team of researchers at the Estonian Centre for Biosustainability (ECB) to support and coordinate the setup of (i) a research direction specializing in gas fermentation technologies, ii) structural changes at ECB to implement a new model of partnership between academia and industry, iii) a training centre on biosustainability. The ERA Chair will be an expert in the field of gas fermentation – intimately linked to the other research groups (e.g. synthetic biology, chemical engineering, bioprocessing) and other initiatives at the ECB (the CelESTial Teaming project and the SynBioTEC). It will lead to solutions to capture carbon through bio-based production of fuels and high-value chemicals from globally available feedstocks, including waste gases and syngas produced via gasification of municipal waste and biomass; an initiative that will positively contribute to the Environmental Challenges and to the Smart Specialisation Strategy of Estonia. Structural measures regarding the research strategy of the ECB and its positioning within an industry context will be established, including planning for i) an innovative cooperation structure, the ECB-Industry-Association and ii) an ECB Pilot Plant. The Association will coordinate activities of the Pilot Plant project for the industrial optimization of bioprocessing technologies. The pilot plant, combined with a training and competence centre, will provide the local bioprocessing industry with research-based innovative technology solutions, and serve as a broad public platform for a debate on biosustainability.With the GasFermTEC project, the ECB expects to increase its research capacity to become more visible and competitive, and more capable of attracting external funding through participation in international research initiatives – leading to its vision of becoming a leading European centre of excellence.
