ValorTech

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The new Chair is expected to conduct forefront research that would create significant benefits for Estonia, Europe, and beyond. Efficient dissemination and exploitation of research results is an issue of key importance in the context of the ERA Chair´s action plan. In addition to targeting the international research community and providing input to policy development, facilitating knowledge transfer to the industry is a particular focus. The R&D to be carried out in the VALORTECH Chair is strongly connected with both the national and regional Smart Specialisation strategy, in the context of which efficient use of resources and related development of health-promoting (functional) food are among key priorities. The demand for advanced R&D services in the VALORTECH fields from the side of the industry currently exceeds the capacity of EMU to provide such services.

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Research and innovation activities

• Optimization of processing technologies of various food raw materials/products to produce fewer by-products;

• Development of effective technologies and processes for valorization of inevitably occurring by-products and non-standard raw material by converting them into high-value functional ingredients;

• Development of advanced technologies focused on the application of the above-mentioned functional ingredients for increasing nutritional value and safety of various food products, including different encapsulation methods, technologies improving final product texture, sensory properties, and nutritive value, and ensuring the stability of these ingredients during manufacturing;

• Development of advanced technologies focused on applications of different extracted functional ingredients in various non-food products (e.g. eco-cosmetics, household chemicals, animal feed, etc.)

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Expected impacts

• Building a top-level research team that fosters excellent research

• Improving research expertise related to the VALORTECH research focus

• Improving the level of teaching and young researcher development

• Popularising ERA Chair´s R&D topics and building (inter)national collaboration

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The broader vision related to the creation of the ERA Chair is that the VALORTECH Chair will develop into a leading center of excellence in the development of advanced technologies for minimum waste, maximum utilization, and valorization of various raw materials and components used in food and also non-food value chains.

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