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Surface modification to increase microbial SAFEty in the food industry

Project description

A new way to keep food production surfaces spotless

Keeping food production and preparation areas clean is an important step in preventing pests from being attracted to surfaces and reduces the risk of cross contamination from bacteria and allergens. Synergies between complementary fields of research, such as surface engineering, surface biofouling, microbial interactions, hydrodynamics and biofilm analysis, will lead to innovative solutions to keep surfaces as clean as possible. The EU-funded SurfSAFE project will focus on the fields of surface modification and biofilm analysis to facilitate the development of tailor-made antifouling and antimicrobial, non-biotoxic surfaces. This will ensure reduced fouling and improved cleanability in the food industry. Another project objective is to reduce the use of water and the disposal of cleaning solutions in the environment.

Objective

SurfSAFE will enhance the scientific and technological capacity of FEUP-UP (PT) in the fields of surface modification and biofilm analysis, thus promoting a leading European Network that guides the future development of tailor-made antifouling and antimicrobial, non-biotoxic surfaces to reduce fouling and improve cleanability in the food industry, ensuring safe and good quality products to consumers. A secondary facet of such work will be a reduction in the use of water and disposal of cleaning solutions into the environment. This proposal will also enable the development of a consolidated strategic research approach and a set of guidelines for exploitation and commercialisation of the post-SurfSAFE research results that will have a strong regional, national and European impact. This challenge will be achieved by twinning the FEUP-UP (PT) with three internationally-leading research institutions, ManMet (UK), UCPH (DK) and UMCG (NL). ManMet is a well-recognised institution for its excellence in the fields of surface engineering and surface fouling, particularly in the food industry. The UCPH partner is highly-experienced in the field of microbial interactions in biofilms, including gene transfer between bacteria. UMCG has core expertise in surface analysis, bacterial adhesion and biofilm imaging. The goals of SurfSAFE are within the specific challenges and scope of the Twinning call, addressing networking gaps and deficiencies between the research institution of the Widening country and internationally-leading counterparts at EU level, through mutual learning and knowledge transfer activities and networking opportunities. SurfSAFE integrates synergies in complementary fields of research that include surface engineering, surface biofouling, microbial interactions, hydrodynamics and biofilm analysis, which together will allow to obtain significant scientific developments that can be applied to improve food production, and thus health and the economy.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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CSA - Coordination and support action

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-WIDESPREAD-2018-2020

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Coordinator

UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 394 850,00
Address
PRACA GOMES TEIXEIRA
4099-002 PORTO
Portugal

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Region
Continente Norte Área Metropolitana do Porto
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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.

€ 394 850,00

Participants (3)

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