Technology & Life Sciences

The project aims to establish an economic process for the production of valuable compounds from phototrophic microorganisms (algae, microalgae) and the subsequent energetic processing of biomass. For this purpose established R&D structures at the Departments of Biotechnology and Environmental, Process & Energy Engineering at MCI, as well as at the Departments of Bio and Environmental Technology and Process Engineering and Production at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (FH OÖ) are further developed, combined and integrated. The Austrian Drug Screening Institutes (ADSI) will contribute additional analytical expertise to the consortium. The main objectives will be the development of the single process steps and competence development in order to provide targeted services for potential company partners in the fields of pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries.

The aim of the project is the detection of novel active ingredients in fungi that can be activated by light. These components can, for example, form the basis for light-activated drugs. This FWF project is carried out in cooperation with the Institute for Pharmacy / Pharmacognosy at the University of Innsbruck. The MCI acts as a national research partner. In addition to supporting cell-based investigations, LED lighting systems are being developed for this project at MCI and scientific input is being given with regard to lighting technology.

The innovation degree of this project lies above all in the recording of the changing characteristics of the final products, in the use of new raw materials for Bäckerei Therese Mölk and the optimization of the fermentation duration (long-term guidance). The challenge of this project is to process organic and, at best, regional cereals into bread by means of various technological techniques (e.g., pre-doughs, long-term dough handling, starter cultures) and thereby achieve a proven nutritional advantage over conventional baked goods. The aim is to identify a preparation and processing process with the associated raw materials and selected starter cultures. These raw materials should make their ingredients such as minerals and trace elements for the human body more usable. The reduction of FODMAPs (fermentable oligo-, di- and monosaccharides as well as polyols) and phytic acid plays an important role. It should lead to products that are more digestible for humans.

The growth of cells on medically relevant surfaces should be controlled by depositing precisely defined nanoparticles. In the FAENOMENAL project, scientific experts in nanotechnology from the University of Innsbruck and the Biotechnology Department from MCI work together with the industrial partners PhysTech Coating Technology GmbH, a Tyrolean company specializing in thin-film technology, and MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geräte Gesellschaft mbH, a large-scale Tyrolean company, spin-off of the University of Innsbruck and potential users.

The development and proof of novel recipes in equine nutrition with a view on the preservation of sensitive and important constituents is part of the new research project, funded by ThinkA GmbH. ThinkA GmbH distributes unique feed over their online platform Carevallo. Equines are very special and sensitive in their nutritional requirements, depending on race, performance, age and medical history. All of these nutritional requirements often are contradictory to the gastrointestinal physiology of these animals. To make sure that the nutritional composition fits togheter with the animal requirement, a novel manufacturing process and preservation method is needed. It has to be ensured that the origin composition of raw material is equivalent to these of the end product. In the research project the usage of functional ingredients and alternative ways of production will be approved. Thus special sensitive ingredients like Vitamin C or β-Carotene could be protected and process related damage could be minimized.

130 t of passage residues occur at A. Darbo AG each year. In the context of this research project, the question arises of how these can be further processed, what can be gained from them or what benefit / value can be given to this residue. It should be noted that a framework condition for the project is to refrain from using it as a food ingredient.

Dieses Branchenprojekt wird sich der Entwicklung von Innovationen in der Topfkonservierung widmen, welche den Zugang zu sicheren, verträglichen und qualitativ einwandfreien Produkten (Lacke und Farben) zukunftsfähig gewährleisten werden. Hierfür muss das Wachstum von Keimen, die z.B. Schimmelbefall auslösen und zu Krankheiten führen, in den erwähnten Produkten verhindert werden. Ziel des Projekts "InCanPress" sind Innovationen auf Biozidprodukte-Ebene basierend auf einer Reduktion der Verfügbarkeit von Nährstoffen (inkl. Wasser), einer Reduktion der anfänglichen bakteriellen Belastung, einer Wirkung auf rein physikalischer Wirkung oder auch dem Einsatz von Technologien in der Herstellung oder der Verpackung, welche die Hygiene verbessern können. Im Projekt soll auch die Realisierung einer neuen, innovativen Gebinde-/Topfkonservierung erarbeitet werden, die in Kombination mit dem Gebinde entsteht. Denkbar sind Gebinde, die eine Rekontamination nach der Öffnung reduzieren/vermeiden oder Convenience gerechte Lösungen, welche sowohl den Nachhaltigkeitsaspekt als auch die Wirtschaftlichkeit berücksichtigen. Im Projekt sollen sowohl auf Produkt- als auch auf Kundengruppen abgestimmte innovative Lösungen ausgearbeitet werden, die entsprechende Zusatznutzen bieten, jedoch den Produktschutz und die vorliegende Qualität nicht beeinträchtigen. Dieser holistische Ansatz ist erforderlich für tragfähige Zukunftslösungen. Stakeholder entlang der ganzen Wertschöpfungskette werden eingebunden, um einen optimale Lösung für alle Beteiligten zu erarbeiten. Dieses Projekt wird von der Österreichischen Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft FFG unterstützt. Projektlaufzeit: 2021 - 2024 Förderung: FFG Branchenprojekt Projektkonsortium: Packforce Austria (Lead - Projektleitung) OFI Österreichisches Forschungsinstitut für Chemie und Technik MCI - Management Center Innsbruck .. und eine Vielzahl an Partnern direkt aus der Industrie Dieses Projekt wird von der Österreichischen Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft FFG unterstützt.

Apple pomace is one of the main waste materials from apple juice production and describes the solid residues that remain after pressing. Pomace can contain up to 30% of the fruit and consists mainly of peels, pits and stems. Because of their high fiber content, apple pomace is often used as a roughage substitute, but it is low in protein and high in sugar, making it unsuitable as a feed substitute. Although apple pomace is a waste product, it contains many valuable ingredients such as antioxidants, pectins, and waxes. Due to the presence of many relevant ingredients, apple pomace is extremely attractive for further use. However, the technological implementation and optimization of the extraction process is extremely complex. On the one hand, the usability of the extraction potential of the marc is limited by the development of microorganisms due to a high moisture content and, on the other hand, existing extraction protocols from the literature must be optimized for the chemical and physical properties of the marc from regional apple varieties in order to achieve the highest possible yield. For this reason it is necessary to pursue different strategies in technological development.

The analysis of mustard flavoring is a very broad concern (beginning with soil, crop, manufacturing, and storage influences) whose purpose is to provide an understanding of the molecular and biochemical relationships involved in mustard production. Furthermore, the research always tries to identify quality-assurance measures that should help to secure short, medium and long-term economic success. The occurrence of gas formation and off-flavoring has been observed in the end product table mustard, e.g. with an altered gas formation, myrosinase activity or p-cresol concentration. The aim of the follow-up project is to describe the depth of these analyzes in more detail, in particular the formation of heat, as well as to concretize any conditions (soil conditions, influence of production and storage, etc.).

The packaging of meat contributes to central tasks in logistics and storage and is also interacting with the quality of the filling. In the InterReg project QualiMeat the interactions by foils on the packaged meat should now be examined more closely, as well as the application of optimized slides in the packaging process.

The aim of the project is to inhibit the oxidative degradation of β-carotene in hay feeds. This will be achieved by alternative methods in the drying process or by adapted methods of biorefinery. Added value of the work is the reduction of the feeding of β-carotene, especially in the winter months in hay milk producing dairy cattle. At the end of the project, a purely procedural and gentle method should be used to conserve the naturally occurring in the plant material β-carotene.

Globale wirtschaftliche und anthropogene Veränderungen machen die Entwicklung zukunftsorientierter sowie nachhaltiger Technologien und Verfahren unumgänglich. Die Nanotechnologie, einer der Schlüsseltechnologien des 21. Jahrhunderts, liefert hierzu einen vielversprechenden Ansatz. Durch die Größenabhängigkeit zentraler physikalischer, chemischer und biologischer Eigenschaften von Nanoteilchen bieten diese die Möglichkeit zur Herstellung funktionaler Oberflächen mit modifizierbaren Eigenschaften. Dies soll in diesem Projekt mit der Entwicklung von Nanopartikelbeschichtungen ausgenützt werden und zu innovativen Applikationen im Bereich der Optik, Biowissenschaften und Umwelttechnologie führen. Mit der patentierten Technologie zur Herstellung von größenselektierten Nanopartikeln können Beschichtungen mit wohldefinierten Nanoteilchen hergestellt werden. Die Nanopartikel werden dabei in mehrfachgeladenen Helium-Nanotröpfchen erzeugt und anschließend auf der zu beschichtenden Oberfläche deponiert. Über verschiedene Prozessparameter kann die Zusammensetzung, die Partikelgröße und die Schichtdicke eingestellt und somit die spezifischen Attribute der Beschichtungen an die gewünschte Anwendung angepasst werden. Dadurch lassen sich zukunftsorientierte Materialien mit verbesserten Eigenschaften realisieren. Auf Basis dieser universellen Nanopartikel-Beschichtungstechnologie sollen im Rahmen dieses Projekts Materialien mit modifizierten physikalischen, chemischen und biologischen Merkmalen hergestellt und für Anwendungen aus den Bereichen Optik, Life-Sciences und Umwelttechnik optimiert werden. Der Fokus dieses Projekts liegt dabei auf der Herstellung von Schichten mit speziellen optischen Eigenschaften, bioaktiven Oberflächen und funktionalisierten Membranoberflächen.

The project focuses on the analysis of various plant-based raw materials for the Tyrolean food industry, including vegetable-derived proteins and fibers as future raw materials for food production.

The qualification seminar BrauTech 2 is the follow-up project to BrauTech and is also aimed at a group of Austrian CraftBeer producers. Central topic of this project is the geothermal technology, which could not be sufficiently treated in the first project due to the thematic scope. This area includes many issues, such as correct yeast management, selection of the right yeast strains and their effects on the final product, fermentation process and associated mis-processes, as well as the subsequent complex of preservation of the products. The range of product development already started in the first project, as well as gained insights into the malting, the technical part of the brewing process and about the used raw materials, are supplemented in the context of the objective project over the manifold possibilities of the different yeasts. Especially in the brewing process, yeast is credited with a multitude of important properties, such as the emergence of numerous aroma substances that are characteristic of the beers, and which further complement the broad variety of products.

Bioeconomy has an enormous potential for Green Growth and professional development, and thus is considered as a key discipline of the 21st century. EU's bioeconomy strategy addresses the production of renewable biological resources and their conversion into vital products. Expanding bioeconomy, particularly in rural areas, represents a major development potential. In the Alpine regions, this potential can however only be harnessed if the actors and municipalities cooperate closely and pursue shared objectives. The overall objective of AlpBioEco is to foster the sustainability of the local economy in the Alpine Space by the valorisation of innovative bioeconomical potentials along bio-based food and botanical extract value chains (VCs). It contributes to the framework conditions for innovation, resulting in eco-innovative business ideas and concepts for SMEs. By implementing and stimulating eco-innovations in practice, exemplarily 3 VCs are analysed, while a cross-sectoral multi-level stakeholder approach is applied. SMEs, clusters and initiatives, administration and politics as well as academia work together. A communication strategy on the basis of the quadruple helix approach strengthens the awareness of bioeconomy in Alpine regions. Within a validation report the approach of eco-innovation along bio-based food production VCs in Alpine regions is provided. Thus, AlpBioEco increases capacities of SMEs to jointly develop bio-based products. Through concepts of 'Open Innovation', it intensifies transnational cooperation for eco-innovations in the bio-based economy. In sum, AlpBioEco contributes to a better cohesion and integrated territorial development since rural regions become connected in new bio-based VCs. Thereby high value jobs will be induced in the agricultural sector. On a macro-regional level, AlpBioEco contributes to a lower disparity of the Alpine Space. This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg Alpine Space programme. Support from the European Union: 1.820.666 € Further Information: http://www.alpine-space.eu/projects/alpbioeco/en/home