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Description
The project goal is to prepare and submit a joint project within the EU research and innovation support program Horizon Europe framework by strengthening cooperation and joint research within the framework, using the strengths of each partner (LatHort, EMU and NTNU) – equipment, experience and ideas – as well as searching for more partners, especially in the field of regulatory aspects, public health, nanotechnology and zero-waste economy. The main result of the project execution: one joint project within the framework of the EU research and innovation support program Horizon Europe will be prepared and submitted. To achieve this result, it is planned to organize at least four online / on-site events (meetings, brainstorming, seminars) and three experience exchange trips. LatHort plans to hire an external service for the preparation of the joint project application. To ensure publicity, at least eight informative updates about the project and the activities carried out are planned to post on each of the partners'' websites and social networks.The project will stimulate collaborative research on EU and regional level and offers splendid possibilities for PhD and postdoctoral students’ research.
Summary of project results
The common challenges of the Baltic States in the field of research are characterized by several aspects, including the lack of allocated funds for cooperation between countries, fragmented public funding, and insufficient collaboration between the state, academic and private sectors, which hinders market-driven research and development, and limited participation in the "Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe" program. The project strengthened the close cooperation of the participating institutions: Institute of Horticulture, (LatHort, Latvia), Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU, Estonia), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU, Norway) and industry representatives, because of submitting project applications within the framework of the EU research and innovation support program Horizon Europe thus improving research achievements at the international level. The goal of project was to, through the collaboration of the partners – the Institute of Horticulture (LatHort, Latvia), Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU) and Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU, Norway), along with other attracted partners within the chosen project topic, to prepare and submit a joint project to EU research and innovation support programme Horizon Europe.
LatHort began the implementation of project with an experience exchange event in Latvia. Colleagues from NTNU and EMU arrived in the end of September and were introduced to the infrastructure of the institute, the fruit garden and diversity of fruit crops, research fields and research results, as well as visited the production facilities of SIA “Latekofood” and IK “DABAS GARDUMI”. These enterprises have had close cooperation with LatHort in several projects and the resulting products are still produced as part of their product line. Since the work of NTNU colleague sis related to fish processing and the valorization of by-products (rest raw material) as part of the Europe Green Course, an additional visit to SIA “Karavela” was organized for them as well, resulting in assurance of the need for the cooperation with scientists to meet sustainability goals.
The first discussions on joint project topics and proposal preparation were started, discussing open and approaching calls for European Union (EU) and innovation program Horizon Europe project calls.
The experience exchange cycle continued in Polli and Tartu, Estonia. Event organizers from Estonia introduced colleagues to the research activities at the Polli Horticultural Research centre laboratories. We were also introduced to colleagues from EMU Chair of Food Science and Technology and the Food Hygiene and Safety division from the Chair of Veterinary Biomedicine and Food Hygiene. We also visited the largest and most modern meat processing plant in Estonia – Nõo Lihatööstus, and a business cooperation event “Mulgimaa Toscana” at the Karksi-Nuia cultural centre. Visiting parties also continued brainstorming activities within the joint project proposal and chose to submit to the ERA4Health open project call NutriBrain2024. Its goal is to support international research projects investigating reduction of aging-related cognitive ability loss through dietary and lifestyle changes. Partner research fields and capabilities were evaluated, and technical and expertise deficiencies were filled by attracting partners from Italy, Germany and Lithuania. Work began on the project proposal.
During the experience exchange event at NTNU campus in Ålesund, visiting parties were introduced to the research fields, study program activities and experiments in laboratories. We visited the largest fish processors in Norway, EPAX AS, which produces fish oil, and Brødrene Sperre AS, which produces frozen and chilled archipelagic fish and traditional salted cod. Additionally, the opportunity was taken to visit the Atlantic Sea park and open-air history museum in Sunnmøre, including the historical boat and ship exhibition. During the visit, project partners from NTNU organized a brainstorm meeting on further joint project proposal preparation activities for Horizon Europe (Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership 2024, SBEP).
Project team can end the story of our small project with the results, which exceeded what was initially planned: they visited partner facilities in person and submitted two joint project proposals. The financing of the EEA grants Baltic Research programme allowed us to have a rounded impression of our partners, meet different specialists from scientific institutions, and share experiences and global problem perspectives with colleagues, allowing us to plan for new project proposals addressing these problems.
Because of the project, two international project applications were prepared and submitted by involving partners and commercial companies from other European countries in the consortium. They envisage research and development of solutions for the expanded use of agro-industry and seafood processing by-products. The financing of the Norwegian financial instrument program made it possible to get to know partners more comprehensively, to meet various specialists from scientific research institutions, to learn about the experience and perspective of colleagues from other countries in solving important global problems for companies, and to establish contacts for the preparation of new international project applications. The project stimulated the ideas generation for joint research at the European Union and regional level, including opportunities for doctoral and postdoctoral student mobility.
Indicators achieved in the project: 2 joint project applications for further funding were submitted and 4 researchers were supported.
Summary of bilateral results
The common challenges of the Baltic States in the field of research are characterized by several aspects, including the lack of allocated funds for cooperation between countries, fragmented public funding, and insufficient collaboration between the state, academic and private sectors. The project strengthened the close cooperation of the participating institutions: Institute of Horticulture, (LatHort, Latvia), Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU, Estonia), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU, Norway) and industry representatives, because of submitting project applications within the framework of the EU research and innovation support program Horizon Europe thus improving research achievements at the international level. The experience exchange events organized within the project, by getting to know the research directions, opportunities and challenges of cooperation partners - scientific organizations, created prerequisites for choosing the most suitable project tenders, offering individual solutions to representatives of industries. Two international project applications were prepared and submitted by involving partners and commercial companies from other European countries in the consortium. They envisage research and development of solutions for the expanded use of agro-industry and seafood processing by-products. The financing of the Norwegian financial instrument program made it possible to get to know partners more comprehensively, to meet various specialists from scientific research institutions, to learn about the experience and perspective of colleagues from other countries in solving important global problems for companies, and to establish contacts for the preparation of new international project applications. The project stimulated the ideas generation for joint research at the European Union and regional level, including opportunities for doctoral and postdoctoral student mobility.