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Pillar 1: TECNOLOGICAL CAPABILITY​

FUNCTIONALITY & HEALTH​
ECOPROCESS​
CONSUMER​ & SOCIETY​
FUTURE NUTRITION

OPTIPROT is structured in the four main areas into which the processes of optimising the food of the future can be divided on the basis of protein coexistence:

To provide businesses with greater nutritional diversity, the combination of animal and alternative proteins increases the range of essential amino acids and nutrients in the diet, contributing to better overall nutrition.

OPTIPROT brings together a high versatility of proteins whose blends will provide business-relevant data in terms of:

Bioavailability and functionality screening: applying omics binomial and in vitro/preclinical models.

Bioavailability in humans. Protein quality: apply omics binomial and human study for postprandial behaviour.

OPTIPROT will promote innovation in protein combinations for application in the food industry through the use of new processing methods and technological advances that optimise the use of ingredients in final food matrices.
Different processing technologies, texturisation and preservation treatments of different protein sources will be worked on in order to optimise the health properties of the products generated. This includes digestibility, bioavailability as well as nutritional balance to be validated by using omics technologies and evaluated in activities belonging to area 1 of OPTIPROT. The following activities are envisaged:

Procurement and processing: training in new ways of procurement and processing for the design of food matrices.

Impact and matrix effect: application of omics to characterise the content of the food matrix (protein).

Economic viability: in the framework of OPTIPROT, economic viability, functionality of protein products, innovation and sustainability are fundamental pillars that will guide all activities.

OPTIPROT will investigate the impact of protein blends on consumers’ sensory preferences considering the perspective provided by omics technologies. On the other hand, it will study how consumers assume the protein transition now and in the future, assessing the impact of the results obtained through the application of omics technologies on health and sustainability, as well as the impact on health at epidemiological level. The following activities are envisaged:

Correlation of omics technologies with sensory impact: sensory impacts of foods with protein combinations vs. foods with alternative proteins.

Consumer behaviour and acceptance of the protein transition: consumer behaviour and acceptance of the protein transition.

Impact analysis of protein coexistence in future diets: integrated assessment model; impact of the protein mix on society’s dietary pattern and weighing with environmental impact.

OPTIPROT can compare how protein combinations are designed and formulated to meet specific health needs (satiety, allergens, sarcopenia, etc.), offering a versatile solution for various dietary requirements. But in the same way, OPTIPROT will evaluate the segmentation of a niche population into similar metabolic and microbiota profiles (metabotypes and enterotypes), through METABOTYPING and ENTEROTYPING strategies, respectively, which in turn will serve as a basis for the design of foods with health properties that have a real impact on people. The following activities are proposed:

Identification of metabotypes and enterotypes: application of metabolomics and metagenomics to identify similar metabolic phenotypes: METABOTYPES.

Generation of algorithms and nutritional recommendation systems: adjusting groups by applying other omics technologies (epigenetics, glycomics…) and refining algorithms of automatic recommendation systems.

Generation of recommendations and conceptualisation of functional foods based on protein coexistence adapted to specific groups.

Pillar 2: ​ TRAINING AND TALENT​

OPTIPROT will develop a joint training plan, organised and delivered by all the members of the network. It is proposed to take a qualitative leap and generate a global joint training plan to promote joint excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration and the constant exchange of knowledge among the members of the network, in addition to the main purpose, which is to offer updated theoretical and practical knowledge at different scientific levels and to different interest groups.

In this sense, the training activities will revolve around the following thematic axes:
1. Omics technologies and their application in the protein field 2.
2. Personalised nutrition and omics
3. Protein coexistence and consumer trends
4. Product development with protein and omics combinations.

And the different training activities will be aimed at different professional and/or academic profiles, specifically:
a) Undergraduate and postgraduate students from universities and research centres.
b) Technical staff of the centres that make up the network
c) Technical personnel from the business sector (interrelation with axis 4 of OPTIPROT).
d) Business sector and managers of agri-food and biotechnology companies.

Attracting and retaining highly qualified talent is essential to enhance the excellence of the OPTIPROT network in science and technology. Bringing in professionals with diverse backgrounds and levels of experience can bring a wide range of perspectives and expertise. Here are some actions considered to attract and retain talent:

1. Development of a unified national talent attraction strategy for Network partners. Several approaches will be pursued through the Technical Coordination Committee:

Providing training and continuous development programmes for existing staff and new members.
Fostering collaboration with universities through bilateral agreements.
Development of a joint specialised training programme
Promoting more specialised and attractive recruitment actions.
Promotion of the design and implementation of branding strategies for the Network, taking advantage of the Cervera seal of excellence as an attractive centre to work in;

2. Development of a policy of attraction, loyalty and retention of national talent.
In relation to loyalty policies, OPTIPROT will promote actions aimed at:

The development of professional careers.
Work flexibility to attract professionals with different needs and circumstances.
Development of an innovative working environment, taking into account the existence of the Network, developing an internal mobility programme that facilitates access to the facilities and knowledge relevant to researchers in this field.
Mentoring programmes: establish mentoring programmes to help new talent to adapt and grow.
Recognition and Rewards: promote performance-based incentives.
Development of a plan with the aim of being recognised as a ‘great place to work’  being organisations where trust, communication, enjoyment of performance, equality, professional development, innovation, agility, leadership, pride and well-being are worked on.

Addressing the attraction and retention of international talent in a strategic and attractive way is fundamental, given the high global competition for highly qualified researchers. The following are different initiatives that the OPTIPROT NETWORK plans to address in the strategy to facilitate both the identification and attraction of international talent:

  • Exchange and Mobility Programmes
  • Scholarships and International Funding
  • Collaboration with foreign universities and research centres
  • Participating in global research networks and international consortia
  • Increase the visibility of the OPTIPROT NETWORK centres internationally through participation in conferences and academic events, publication in international journals and active promotion in academic networks and online platforms.
  • Mentoring Programmes

The partners of the OPTIPROT grouping will develop all their activities in the Network, assuming as their own the set of actions set out in the Equality Plans of each partner.

All OPTIPROT Network Centres comply with the General Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and their Social Inclusion (Royal Legislative Decree 1/2013). The following specific actions are indicated as particular or awareness-raising actions:

Awareness-raising days will be held each year for the employees of each Centre of the OPTIPROT Network.
In addition, we will participate in other types of awareness days, such as 3 December, International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Pillar 3: ​INTERNATIONALISATION​

In addition to the actions that each centre usually carries out aimed at promoting the participation of companies in international projects, mainly channelled into the identification of funding opportunities and the individual needs of both centres and companies, the OPTIPROT Network will work in a unified manner in two main areas:

  1. Networking actions that will be carried out through the participation of the NETWORK in international forums (Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), Brokerage events Horizon Europe).
  2. Advice and accompaniment of companies towards their internationalisation.

During the course of the OPTIPROT network, international calls for proposals will be analysed, especially those promoted by the EU. The following networking actions are also proposed:

  1. To promote collaboration strategies with other centres (beyond OPTIPROT) with a high level of participation at European level.
  2. Participate as active members in the consultation committees of Topics and Working Groups with lobbying capacity at the European level.
  3. Creation of a joint working group between the Technical Coordination Committee and the NCPs (National Contact Points), as well as concerted visits to officers to compare proposals.
  4. Encourage the participation of research staff in evaluation committees to improve proposal writing skills and maximise the chances of success, while strictly respecting any conflict of interest.
  5. Attendance at Framework Programme Info-days and Brokerage events and participation in proposer networking days to allow for bilateral meetings.
  6. Promote candidate proposals as a leader in different topics, avoiding internal competition in fundraising and maximising the chances of success.

Taking as a starting point the individual activity of each partner in participating in networks and forums, a sum effect will be generated by sharing knowledge and information of interest among the centres. In addition, the applicant centres actively participate in different platforms and associations at regional, national and European level. In order to increase collaborations with other Centres and scientific institutions, the following actions are proposed:

  1. Identify the most relevant scientific institutions in the context of the Network, including national public institutions in order to have complementary infrastructures.
  2. Discriminate between existing contacts; a dossier will be prepared with the objectives of the OPTIPROT network and the possibility of establishing contact in a collaborative environment will be considered.
  3. Contacts will be established to promote exchanges of researchers and joint use of facilities.

The current scenario of participation in forums, associations and other international societies of the components of the OPTIPROT Network is as follows:

BDVA Big Data Value Association
DMEDIA European Digital Think Tank Network
EIP AHA European Innovation
European Association for Innovation on Active and Healthy Ageing EuMHA European Mobile Health Alliance
EuMHA European Mobile Health Alliance
VPH Institute – Building the
Virtual Physiological
Nutrition Society.
Euro Fed Lipid
SPANISH ASSOCIATION OF SENSORY ANALYSIS PROFESSIONALS
EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR SENSORY SCIENCE
Ingredients for a circular economy (I4CE) – A European partnership S3
Metabolomics Society
FOODforce Network – foodforces Webseite!
Bridge2Food Plant-based food and protein
European Sensory Network – Your partner for sensory and consumer research: ESN (esn-network.com)

Pillar 4: ​ TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, EXPLOITATION & DISSEMINATION

The OPTIPROT NETWORK Strategic Programme seeks to promote a paradigm shift in the food industry in the way of designing foods with healthy properties that combine different protein sources in their formulation. Thus, the effective transfer and arrival of the results of the OPTIPROT NETWORK, which will translate into new capacities and services within the reach of the companies in this value chain, is essential to meet this objective.

The Plan for the transfer and dynamisation of business investment includes 4 activities:
ACTIVITY 1: Definition of business models
ACTIVITY 2: Dissemination of the Network’s capacities.
ACTIVITY 3: Business innovation dynamics
ACTIVITY 4: Acceleration programme for SMEs/start-ups: ACELEROMICA

OPTIPROT will adopt the necessary measures for the protection of research results from the start of the project. The appropriate protection strategy will be defined for each asset identified, ensuring from the outset that the protection process can be effective and robust at all times, prior to the preparation of scientific publications or dissemination at conferences or workshops. The planned actions are as follows:

  1. Identification and evaluation of exploitable results.
  2. Asset protection strategy

The centres that make up the OPTIPROT Network have experience in the dynamisation of businesses through the creation of New Technology-Based Companies (NTBCs) or spin-offs. In addition, the OPTIPROT Network partners are interested in promoting collaboration and support in the creation and co-creation of new spin-offs based on Cervera 19 technology. To this end, the following activities are proposed:

  1. OPTIPROT exploitable results
  2. Participation in entrepreneurship programmes
  3. Creation of an OPTIPROT entrepreneurship day.

OPTIPROT will have its own Communication Plan where target audiences, communication channels and actions will be defined. The strategy includes 6 objectives:

1. To communicate the integral technology transfer model of omic technologies specifically adapted to the healthy and functional food and ingredients sector.
2. To position OPTIPROT as the system of cooperating technology centres that brings together in a single infrastructure all that is needed to solve difficulties, take advantage of opportunities and anticipate trends in the sector.
3. To generate interest in the food sector for the use of the Network’s services, which will have an impact on its differentiation and competitiveness at a global level.
4. Communicating the project’s cornerstones in technology transfer, strengthening research and intangible assets (technology watch, training, attracting talent).
5. Promote the general public’s knowledge of the new trends in personalised precision nutrition and their impact on people’s health and well-being.
6. Generate a community of stakeholders and strengthen communication with key groups.