BESTMEDGRAPE

“BESTMEDGRAPE project aims at supporting the creation of new start-ups/SMEs by transferring scientific/technological knowledge on local grape cultivars and exploitation of wine by-products as a source of bioactive compounds that are transformed in innovative commercial health products when appropriately incorporated in ad hoc nanocarriers. Living labs/seminars/round tables/meetings/business creation trainings (Contamination lab CLab)/technology platforms will favour the involvement of stakeholders and business creation. Direct beneficiaries are: local farms, wineries and cosmetic and functional food SMEs, researchers, selected potential entrepreneurs and local Institutions, which will benefit from extensive capacity building during and after project performance. According to ENI CBC Med programme - A.2.1 priority, the proposal fully responds to the Overarching Objective of fostering sustainable economic, social and territorial development. It takes stock from over 10-year R&D of the partners in the fields of grape valorisation, waste exploitation and development of nanotechnological antioxidant/anti-inflammatory/anti-neurodegenerative formulations, areas where international patents have been obtained. Following a long-standing scientific relationship, a working partnership has been established with institutes were joint investigations on grape have already been carried out: University of Cagliari (Applicant) Italian National Research Council (PP1) National Institute of Health and Medical Research (PP2) University of Carthage (PP3) Saint Joseph University of Beyrouth (PP4) National Trade Union Chamber of wine, beer and spirits' producers (PP5) Berytech Foundation-Business Innovation Centre (PP6) Jordan Society for Scientific research (PP7). The joint group expects to produce a substantial change in areas where winemaking could not profit from recent technological applications due to generalized economic slowdown and conflicts affecting the Med area.