Summary
- Closed for EoI
- Profile Type
- Research & Development Request
- POD Reference
- RDRES20231212013
- Term of Validity
- 20 December 2023 - 19 December 2024
- Company's Country
- Spain
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
Contact the EEN partner nearest to you for more information.
Find my local partner
General information
- Short Summary
-
This is a circular economy-based project aiming at the isolation and characterization of new
extremophilic microorganisms/strains from aquatic ecosystems, with potential applications in soil
and water bioremediation strategies and as cell factories to produce nanoparticles (NPs) and
biomolecules (enzymes, proteins, carotenoids, exopolysacharides antibiotics and
polyhydroxyalkanoates) which are currently highly marketed. - Full Description
-
This is a circular economy-based project aiming at the isolation and characterization of new
extremophilic microorganisms/strains from aquatic ecosystems, with potential applications in soil
and water bioremediation strategies and as cell factories to produce nanoparticles (NPs) and
biomolecules (enzymes, proteins, carotenoids, exopolysacharides antibiotics and
polyhydroxyalkanoates) which are currently highly marketed. Among the extremophiles isolated,
special attention will be paid to halophiles, thermophiles and chaotrophiles considering that those
metabolic profiles are the most attractive in terms of applications in biotechnology.
Considering the extreme physicohcemical parameters that define these ecosystems (in terms of
temperature, pH values, ionic strength etc.), optimised sampling methods and technologies will be develop to assure efficient isolation and characterization of microbial species and accurate
characterization of their metabolic capabiities as well as the biological activities of their molecules.
Soil and water bioremediation strategies as well as the production of the NPs and biomolecules will be developed at a laboratory scale by using green circular economy approaches minimizing cost, time of production and negative impacts on the environment. Protocols for the upscaling at the pilot scale will be also designed. The environments to be explored as sources of the microorganisms are extremely cold ecosystems, salty environments and chaotropic environments (not only deep-sea but also coastal in Europe).
The consortium is constituted of 16 partners from 9 countries:
University of Alicante; University of Tehran; University of Essex; University of Sevilla; Vrije
Universiteit Brussel; University of Nova Lisboa; University of Calabria; EMBA Group (Environmental Microbiology, Biotechnology & Astrobiology) of CNR Institute of Polar Sciences (Messina, Italy);Centro Tecnológico del Calzado y el Plástico (CETEC); Dept. of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca; Friedrich Schiller University Jena; University of Bucharest; Institute of Biochemistry of Romanian Academy; DES Solutio (SME) (Portugal); Bras del Port, S.A (Spain); Digiotouch (Estonia). - Advantages and Innovations
-
Exploration of Extremophiles: Focusing on extremophilic microorganisms from various extreme ecosystems allows for the discovery of unique biological entities that thrive in harsh conditions, potentially harboring novel metabolic capabilities and molecular properties.
Bioremediation Potential: Leveraging extremophiles for soil and water bioremediation introduces innovative approaches to tackle environmental pollution caused by industrial wastes, heavy metals, and nitrogen compounds. Their adaptability to extreme conditions might enable them to thrive in contaminated environments and aid in cleaning up pollutants effectively.
Biotechnological Applications: The project targets the production of various valuable biomolecules, including enzymes, proteins, carotenoids, antibiotics, and more. These substances have high market demand across industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and biotechnology.
Nanoparticle Production: Utilizing extremophilic microorganisms as cell factories to produce nanoparticles presents an innovative approach. Nanoparticles have diverse applications in medicine, electronics, and materials science.
Circular Economy Approach: The emphasis on circular economy principles ensures sustainability by minimizing environmental impacts and optimizing resource utilization. Using industrial wastes as growth substrates for microorganisms aligns with eco-friendly practices.
Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: The consortium involves multiple partners from diverse fields and countries. This collaboration fosters knowledge exchange, potentially leading to breakthroughs in extremophile exploration, bioremediation, and bioproduction.
Scale-Up Protocols: Developing protocols for upscaling laboratory processes to a pilot scale ensures the project's feasibility for real-world applications. This step is crucial for transitioning innovative ideas from the lab to practical implementation. - Stage of Development
- Lab tested
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 6: Clean Water and SanitationGoal 9: Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureGoal 15: Life on LandGoal 13: Climate ActionGoal 12: Responsible Consumption and ProductionGoal 14: Life Below Water
- IPR description
- Looking for water treatment plants or desalination plants interested in the bioremediation of saline waters or brines contaminated with metals or nitrogen compounds such as nitrates or nitrites
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
• Collaborative Research and Testing: The partner would engage in collaborative research to assess the potential application of extremophilic microorganisms in bioremediation. This might involve testing the effectiveness of these microorganisms in treating saline waters or brines contaminated with metals or nitrogen compounds.
• Providing Access to Contaminated Waters: The partner could offer access to their facilities and contaminated water sources for research and development purposes. This would facilitate the testing and application of extremophiles in real-world conditions.
• Field Testing and Implementation: Working together, the partner and the project team could conduct field tests to validate the effectiveness of extremophiles in bioremediation within the partner's operational environment. This might involve implementing pilot-scale bioremediation strategies.
• Data Sharing and Feedback: Collaborating partners can share data and insights obtained from the field tests. The water treatment or desalination plant partner's feedback on the feasibility, scalability, and efficiency of the bioremediation strategies would be crucial for refining and optimizing the process.
• Scaling Strategies: Once proven effective, the partner could contribute to the development of scaling strategies for implementing these bioremediation techniques on a larger scale within their facilities or in similar contexts. - Type and Size of Partner
- SME 11-49
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Call details
- Framework program
- Horizon Europe
- Call title and identifier
-
HORIZON-CL6-2024-CircBio-01-10
- Coordinator required
-
Yes
- Deadline for EoI
- Deadline of the call
Dissemination
- Market keywords
- 08004003 - Water treatment equipment and waste disposal systems
- Targeted countries
- All countries