Partners
The project partnership is structured so as to implement a Knowledge Triangle and ensure the effective collaboration between key players in higher education (HE) and vocational education and training (VET), business and research in farming sector.
The main criteria for the selection of RELIEF consortium have been:
− Expertise and complementarities in agriculture, bio-economy sector and digitalization to fulfil project objectives
− Type of institutions, to cover the overall value chain to guarantee project completion and exploitation
− Balanced geographical distribution, countries with different growth rates in bioeconomy development
− Experience in European projects and participation/coordination of relevant EU projects
In line with the requirements of the Alliances for Innovation RELIEF brings together a collection of HEI, VET providers/farmer consultants, research institutes, social partners and farming business partners with presence in rural communities and farming.
HEI – Higher Education Institutions
University of Peloponnese (UOP/P1) has a range of expertise in relation to project management of large scale European projects and working with diverse ranges of partners. It has a strong management team which will ensure that the project resources are applied appropriately. P1 brings its expertise in relation to computer systems and informatics to ensure the development of the RELIEF e-learning platform. UOP has also extensive expertise related to agricultural economics, use of natural resources, sustainable development which allows it to work proactively with other HEIs and enterprises, to support the development of the project outcomes. As the coordinator of the RELIEF project UOP is the leader in WP1. It ιs also involved in WP2-WP7.
University of Florence (UNIFI/P5) covers all academic disciplines and is one of the most productive public research and educational institutes in Italy. Its Research Centre for Renewable and Alternative Energies (CREAR) focuses on the development and assessment of renewable energy both in research and in teaching by merging several departments of the university with a strong interdisciplinary focus including the agronomy, bioenergy, technology development, environmental, economic, and engineering aspects. UNIFI will share the expertise and knowledge in the field of bio economy, with a particular focus on the Agricultural side.
UNIFI will lead WP6 being responsible for project quality assurance and evaluation. Moreover, it will coordinate Tasks 6.1 and 6.2.
UNIFI ιs also involved in WP1-WP5 & WP7.
University of Azores (UAZ/P10) has played a fundamental role in the qualification of the local population of Azores and has developed collaborations with other national and foreign institutions. Its mission covers teaching, research and extension in exact sciences and technology, natural and environmental sciences, agricultural sciences. UAz provides to RELIEF its experience in working with the farming sector.
UAZ will lead WP3 and participate in all other WPs.
Mälardalens högskola (MDH/P9) is one of Sweden’s large institutes of higher education, enrolling some 16000 students, of which 1/3 in engineering. There are four schools and six research profiles. The School of Business, Society and Engineering has some 4000 undergraduate students and one of the research environments is Future Energy Center (FEC). The Future Energy Centre (FEC) is an internationally competitive research environment with a focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency and minimization of emissions and waste. It is one of Sweden’s strongest environments in system optimization targeting the process industry and the energy sector. It is also one of the two excellent research environments at Mälardalen University. The research at FEC has been aimed towards meeting the future challenges in energy systems by improving the energy and environmental performance of existing systems, and by increasing and streamlining the share of renewable energy in the form of biogas, solar energy and bio‐waste. MDH will provide its expertise in research activities within bioenergy and advanced controls of integrated energy system.
VET (Vocational Education and Training) and farmer consultants
Olympic Training & Consulting Ltd (OT/P3) provides Vocational Education and Training and Business Consulting to farmers. OT provides VET courses in a variety of fields such as agriculture, management, sustainable development, ICT, green skills, basic and advanced digital skills etc. Since 2016, when the company entered the wider area of the rural economy OT directly supports more than 1400 farmers on a constant, yearly basis by providing services within and around the IACS (Integrated Subsidy Management System). It is a certified Application Submission Center (KYD) and prepares applications for Young Farmers programs, Improvement Plans etc. within the RDP (the greek Rural Development Program within the CAP). In addition OT offers support and consulting in management of crop insurances, subsidies and investment plans. OT has a wide network of specialists directly or indirectly involved in farming and rural development. OT contributes to RELIEF its specific expertise and resources such as its extensive network of farmers, its ability to design improvement plans and provide business consulting to farmers, its expertise in developing training material, training methodology and assessment and implementation of vocational train.
OT will be the leader of WP5 and participate in all other WPs.
CESIE (CESIE/P6) focuses its work on the research of social needs and challenges and the use of innovative learning approaches. CESIE actively connects research with action through the use of formal and non-formal learning methodologies. Its organizational structure is divided into 6 thematic units which are supported by 3 geographical departments (Local, European and International) and 4 transversal offices. CESIE benefits from a broad network of partners with more than 80 countries (civil society organisations, universities, schools, research centres, public authorities and private entities, youth centres, companies and entrepreneurs). CESIE contributes to RELIEF its extensive network, its ability to apply multidisciplinary approaches and its experience gained through its participation in “Living Lab research concept for rural areas” and the Master Programme on Bio-Based Circular Economy.
CESIE will be the leader of WP7 related to the dissemination, communication and impact exploitation of the Project and participate in all other WPs.
INNOVADE LI LTD (INNOVADE/P8)
INNOVADE is an educational technology-based organisation with extensive expertise in technological advancements (i.e., web platforms, web app tools) and has developed and implemented more than 70 funded projects with partners in more than 20 countries. INNOVADE led a series of technology and web production projects related to the design and development of innovative educational technologies including games, mobile application and online tools.
INNOVADE works with organizations to help them streamline technological advancements and productivity tools into their processes to ensure that they improve performance, and increase their productivity and profitability. One of the core competencies is the design and development of technology solutions, such as web platforms, AR and VR tools, mobile applications, gamification, and web application tools.
Innovade has a very specific role within the RELIEF project. It will contribute in the deployment of the technology enhanced learning methods and tools (virtual collaborative spaces etc.), which can be adapted in farming, aiming to enhance the adoption of bio economy thinking and the development of specific gamified resources and tools.
Research Institutes
TERINOV Science and Technology Park (TERINOV/P7) is a Science and Technology Park, supporting an ecosystem where openness to society, scientific and technological development, connectivity and networking is the key. TERINOV offers a set of state-of-the-art services and infrastructures (e.g. biotech labs, diary innovation labs, > 6 hectares of experimental field parcels) and access to specialized business mentors, researchers, scientific consultants, and to national and international partners and networks.In fact, TERINOV is a place where agribusiness professionals can develop their research and business models alongside with other professionals (i.e., CCIs and ICTs), creating and developing the design and technological requirements that add-value to their services and products while being more profitable and sustainable.
P7 will lead WP2 and contribute to all other WPs.
Institute of Bioeconomy and Agri-Technology of the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas – CERTH (IBO/P4)
The Institute for Bio-Economy and Agri-Technology (iBO), is one of the five Institutes of the Centre for Research and Technology – Hellas (CERTH), a legal entity governed by private law with non-profit status, supervised by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT) of the Greek Ministry of Development and Investments. CERTH is the first Greek research institution recognized by the EU that respects the principles of the “Charter for Researchers and the Code of Contact for the Recruitment of Researchers”. CERTH is listed among the Top-20 of the EU’s Research Centres with the highest participation in FP7 competitive research grants. CERTH has a unique experience in the management, coordination and successful implementation of EU projects.
IBO/CERTH focuses on the scientific field of agri-technology and the broader scientific area of bio-systems engineering under the integration of multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary specializations and research units. At the same time, iBO’s research priorities include rational environmental management and sustainability assessment of bio-production activities, and the optimisation of human interactions within these activities, all in the direction of adopting the principles of the circular economy. iBO’s philosophy lays on a multiple-disciplinary approach toward the development and advancement of technologies dedicated to the bio-production systems domain, including crop production, livestock, and fisheries, under the external framework of economic development, welfare, and environmental impact alleviation, while in parallel it generates new technological paradigms shift for other domains. iBO has significant experience on EU and national projects and over the last 5 years IBO has participated as coordinator or partner in 37 projects, of which 24 are European (16 H2020, 5 ERASMUS+, 1 PRIMA, 2 INTERREG).
ReadLab Ltd (RL/P2)
ReadLab is a Greece-based research institution that aims to generate positive social and sustainable impact through innovation. Drawing on the diverse experience and expertise of its staff, the organization provides, among other, research studies, reports and analyses, technology-enhanced learning solutions (e-learning platforms, Virtual Learning Environment development, education apps etc.), quality management in education, target group needs-tailored lifelong and adult learning programmes, design and development of training material in a range of fields and sectors, as well as mentoring and support services. ReadLab is called to deliver and install the Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) of RELIEF developing new teaching methods and learning material adapting a human-centered approach and aiming at the promotion of sustainable development and growth. RL is the Leader of WP4 and will also contribute to all other WPs.
Dream Italia (Dream/P11)
D.R.E.AM. Italia is a cooperative society that operates in the forestry, environmental, agricultural and wildlife sectors, providing services at the national and international levels. It aims to contribute to the protection of forests and the environment, sustainable rural development and the requalification of the territory. It was founded in 1978 and its staff consists of over 50 members of the cooperative and professionals qualified in contiguous and integrated areas of expertise, as well as a network of hundreds of collaborators. The company is accredited as an important centre of specialized skills where topics such as reduction of fire risk, forest conservation and restoration, renewable energy applied to farms, innovation in the sector of agro-forestry are at the heart of their training. In addition, it has managed two training centers, located in Tuscany Region (Italy): the Forest Fire Training Centre “La Pineta”, dedicated to training on forest fires; “Officine Capodarno”, dedicated to economic and social development in mountain areas. Since the beginning, D.R.E.Am is the technical referent of the national “Legacoop Agroalimentare”, which associates 1,497 active cooperatives, with 197,365 members, 29,224 employees and a turnover of 9,697,000,000 euros. These companies operate in all sectors and stages of agri-food production, with a widespread presence throughout the national territory. D.R.E.Am has the authorization from “Legacoop Agroalimentare” to actively involve the cooperatives associated with it. DREAm will contribute to every WP.
SwIdeas
SwIdeas is a Swedish enterprise based in Malmö which has a social mission that focuses on environmental and social sustainability. Founded in 2013, SwIdeas is a think and do type of organisation: globally aspired, yet regionally rooted in Sweden. It partners with small and medium-sized enterprises, civil society and the public sector in Sweden, Europe and internationally to provide innovative solutions to our societies’ environmental and social challenges through applied research, informal, non-formal & formal education and awareness raising initiatives. Besides, SwIdeas counts with an extensive portfolio of professional services carried out by dedicated and knowledgeable professionals who provide expertise within start-up, international development, social and sustainable development, and advisory services.