New Business opportunities & Environmental Sustainability using MED GRAPE nanotechnological products
Partners in Sardinia for the Kick-off Meeting and Launching event
BESTMEDGRAPE project, coordinated by the University of Cagliari, had its first face-to-face meeting in Cagliari last November 2019. All partners from Italy, France, Lebanon, Tunisia and Jordan were present and had the opportunity to discuss and share knowledge, experiences and ideas in order to find the best ways to start the project. The main aims of the project are to support the creation of new startups by transferring scientific and technological knowledge on local grape cultivars and the exploitation of wine by-products as a source of bioactive compounds that can be transformed into innovative commercial health products.
During the first day all partners, including Berytech, had the opportunity to present their institution and the associated partners from their country; then the work packages were presented by the Beneficiary and by the respective coordinating partner. Finally, the first operational Steering Committee meeting was held in order to share and approve some key documents.
On the second day, the morning was dedicated to a short training regarding technical, financial and communication challenges with two representatives of the Managing Authority. In the evening, after a short debate, all partners participated in the launching event, with about 100 representatives from several stakeholders: potential entrepreneurs, local SMEs, regional agencies involved in agriculture, etc.
The ENI CBC MED program was presented by the Managing Authority and BESTMEDGRAPE was explained by the coordination team. In order to promote synergies among ENI projects, LIVINGAGRO project was illustrated by Beneficiary, Forestas Agency.
The third day was devoted to the press conference; the massive participation of the media guaranteed maximum visibility for the event.
Finally, the visit to the Botanical Gardens and to the Germplasm Sardinian Bank concluded the meeting.
About the Project
Grape as a traditional crop in the Mediterranean area has a strong innovation potential, which has not been effectively exploited yet. People working in the grape cultivation sector are generally focused on improving the quality of grape and wine, but usually don’t consider how to make the most out of grape waste.
Based on the R&D experience of the partners in the fields of grape valorization, waste exploitation and development of nanotechnological antioxidant/anti-inflammatory/anti-neurodegenerative formulations, BESTMEDGRAPE aims at supporting the creation of new startups/SMEs by transferring scientific/technological knowledge on local grape cultivars and the exploitation of wine by-products as a source of bioactive compounds that can be transformed into innovative commercial health products.
Hence, the project will not only valorize a Mediterranean product – grape – but also the expansion of the grape value chain through the development of nanotechnological products, thus boosting the local economy, reducing environmental pollution and increasing employment opportunities.
Key Information
Full title: New Business opportunities & Environmental suSTainability using MED GRAPE nanotechnological products – Acronym: BESTMEDGRAPE
Thematic objective: A.2 Support to education, research, technological development and innovation
Priority: A.2.1 Technological transfer and commercialization of research results
Countries: Italy, France, Tunisia, Lebanon, Jordan
Financial Data
Euro 3.3 million Total budget
Euro 2.6 million EU contribution
20% Project co-financing
What will be improved?
BESTMEDGRAPE expects a change of attitude in the way Mediterranean entrepreneurs deal with the many botanical and beneficial properties of local grape cultivars. Great attention will be devoted to the manufacture of high quality nanotechnological, cosmeceutical and nutraceutical products. This will entail the growth of a new value chain derived from grape waste and related job/business opportunities. In addition, the project will contribute to the preservation of the Mediterranean biodiversity and avoid environmental contamination from the huge quantity of bulky waste generated during winemaking.
Who will benefit?
- Farmers and local wineries
- 35 early-stage researchers
- 210 potential entrepreneurs
- Existing enterprises and industrial processing companies interested in recycling wine-making waste
- Consumers and end-users interested in environmental-friendly grape products
- 15 public institutions involved in environmental sustainability
Expected achievements
- 20 living labs activated and at least 4 co-publications on native grape cultivars characterization and extraction
- 1 cross-border technology platform developed to support business networking on grape waste exploitation
- 250 users interested in technological studies (pre-competitive analysis)
- 10 products and services developed for commercialization in the field of grape derivatives
- 10 newly established companies operating in the production and commercialization of innovative products and services in the area of grape and its derivatives
- 250 pre-competitive analyses of promising products and services
- 150 potential entrepreneurs selected for the exploitation of promising grape-related products and services
Project In Numbers
8 Partners
5 Countries
10 Technical outputs
Partners from Lebanon
Saint Joseph University of Beirut
Berytech Foundation
Associates from Lebanon
Chateau Ksara SAL
Chateau Kefraya
Chateau St. Thomas
Project Duration
September 2019 – September 2022
