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Description
The main objective of the project is to boost the growth of the company in the biotechnology industry by investing in the production and distribution flow and by performing a research and development (R&D) into developing a new product.
The objective of the company is to expand its current research carried out on the basis of previous research conducted in Italy and to improve the consumer readiness of gluten-free biotech products with the new product. The goal of the R&D component is to develop, prototype and validate the gluten-free innovative product named A-Gluten. The investment component includes improving the operational capacity by investing in new equipment which will permit an extension and diversification of the production process and improve service delivery. The new equipment will upscale the production capacity, green the production process by reducing electricity, gas and water and finally secure the needed model for the design of the smart factory. Key activities include:
- Investments related to the new equipment.
- Management activities.
- Publicity to promote the project.
Expected outcomes include a reduction of 7,55 tonnes of CO2 emissions as a result of energy and water consumption reduction. The project is also expected to decrease the current energy consumption by 20%.
The project is implemented in partnership with International Development Norway (IDN) which focuses mainly on renewable energy, environmental technology, industrial production and ICT. The tasks of IDN include providing expertise and support the revising of the production flow, update the business model and the optimization of A-Gluten production and pilot a specific Smart Factory model.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several key issues and challenges. The Applicant had over ten years of experience in implementing R&D projects and delivering products to various industries, including pharmaceutical and food sectors. However, the growth potential of their main activity was limited due to the reduced fermentation capacity of their current equipment. This small production capacity could not meet the increasing demand in the biotechnology market, which was further hindered by pandemic conditions.
The biotechnology market''s new development needs highlighted the inadequacies of the Applicant''s old equipment, which affected productivity and efficiency. Therefore, investment in new production equipment was necessary to improve competitiveness and increase production. The project aimed to develop a cost-effective production process for detoxified gluten (A-Gluten) and invest in new equipment to expand manufacturing lines and enhance service delivery.
The project also sought to address the need for a revision of the Applicant''s business model, greening their production process, and improving resource allocation. By introducing A-Gluten as a product, the Applicant aimed to enter the gluten-free market, establish a new value proposition, and tailor their business model to a scalable growth engine for international markets.
The project was implemented in partnership with International Development Norway (IDN), which provided expertise and support in revising the production flow, updating the business model, optimizing A-Gluten production, and piloting a specific Smart Factory model. The expected outcomes included a reduction in CO2 emissions and energy consumption, contributing to a greener production process.
The project focused on two main components: research and development (R&D) and investment.
In the R&D component, the project started at Technology Readiness Level 6, having been documented and tested in Italy. The objective was to expand the existing research and improve the consumer readiness of gluten-free biotech products, specifically the innovative product. A team of researchers was involved in developing, prototyping, and validating the new formula, aiming to reach Technology Readiness Level 8.
The investment component aimed to improve operational capacity by acquiring new equipment. This included the purchase and installation of fermenters, an HPLC unit, IT&C equipment, a laboratory centrifuge, a plate reader, a convection oven, a shaker, an autoclave, a rotary evaporator, and a UPS. These acquisitions were intended to upscale production capacity, green the production process by reducing electricity, gas, and water consumption, and secure the model for designing a smart factory.
The project achieved several outcomes, including an estimated annual growth in turnover and net operational profit, a reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions, and a decrease in water consumption. Additionally, the project resulted in the development of the A-Gluten innovative product, automation of the production process, optimization of production flow, and reduction of waste consumption with new equipment.
The project also resulted in the development of the innovative gluten-free product, A-Gluten, which targeted the growing gluten-free market. This product aimed to provide a new value proposition and scalable growth engine for international markets. The automation of the production process and optimization of the production flow further enhanced the Applicant''s operational efficiency. The acquisition of new equipment contributed to reducing waste consumption and greening the production process.
Summary of bilateral results
The partner provided expertise and supported the revision of the production flow. They designed the automation and digitalization plan for the production processes related to the current Applicant operations. Additionally, the partner updated the business model and optimized A-Gluten production. In this process, they refined the automation and digitalization production flow, developed and implemented a new waste management plan, and created a new energy management plan. Furthermore, the partner piloted a specific Smart Factory model.