The FoOd induStry of the digiTal Era: new practices in tRaining and skills development though Extended Reality (xR) Erasmus Project

Project Title

The FoOd induStry of the digiTal Era: new practices in tRaining and skills development though Extended Reality (xR)

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Enterprise, industry and SMEs (incl. entrepreneurship); New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Aim and Context
The aim of the project is to introduce new technologies in the food industry and food science and improve the capacity of students, researchers, academics and industry professionals, in these technologies.
The food and drink industry is a major contributor to Europe’s economy. In 2018, it had a turnover of 1,109 billion, making it the largest EU manufacturing sector and the leading employer (4.57 million people). This accounts to 294,000 companies and 110 billion exports -17.9% of of EU global exports. Given this size, it is important that such organisations are supported in creating competitive, technologically efficient supply chains through innovation, necessitating novel educational strategies. Considering that Europe’s food and drink industry committed to increase value added by 2.5-3.5% per year to 2025, such innovative strategies need to be firmly on track. The food industry is also growing into a data-driven community, responding to the growing demand from the modern consumer for fully nutritious, sustainable and safe foods.

Objectives
The objectives of the project are as follows:
– To improve the know-how of industry students, professionals, researchers and academics in the use of xR technologies through 2 intensive programmes for higher-education learners.
– To pilot xR technologies in the food industry through the development of an xR prototype tool adapted for the food industry.
– To develop an E-learning tool on the use of the xR prototype tool, to enable the transfer of knowledge to industry professionals and academia

Activities
As a means to achieve these objectives, the following activities will be implemented:
– Training of 30 industry professionals, researchers and academics through 2 intensive study programmes .
– Exchange of best practices through virtual meetings and 8 blended mobilities, for the development of an xR prototype tool and e-learning module.
– 4 transnational project meetings for the effective management and implementation of the project.
In addition to the above, as a means to promote the project and also exploit the project results a dissemination plan will be implemented in addition to three different multiplier events.

Number and Profile of participants
The participants of this project will be students, researchers, academics and industry professionals who operate in the fields of food and computer sciences and the food industry. These participants will take part in the intensive study programmes and blended mobilities. In addition to this they will also take part in the overall development of the IOs for this project. There will be 38 participants in total taking part in these mobilities and research components.

Methodology
For the effective management of the project, three transnational project meetings will be organised. Each of the transnational meetings will focus on the current state of the implementation of the project, logistical planning for the upcoming activities, current implementation of the project objectives and indicators, an overlook of current project spending and discuss and issues on the implementation of the project which would have arisen at that point. These meetings will be attended by the project management team, which includes at least one representative from each of the organisations involved in the project.
The project management team, who will be in charge of the implementation of the project, will consist of a project leader/project manager, project financial officer (UoM) and six project officers each representing the partner organisations, with regard to the project officers UM will be represented by two officers as they will be the only entity providing expertise on computer science. It is important that this expertise is also reflected during the management of the project so that the project management team can also have the input of a computer expert.

Results and Impact
This project will lead to the following results:
-1xR prototype tool for use within the food industry and food science fields (IO1)
-1 e-learning course for use within the food science field (IO2)
-2 intensive training events
-8 blended mobilities
-3 multiplier events leading to the sharing of the IOs of the project, with key stakeholders in the food industry and researchers and academics in food sciences
Through the implemented activities and IOs the project will impact the participants, participating organisations, and target groups and stakeholders involved in this project. This project will provide participants and participating organisations with new skills and knowledge about the use of xR tools in the field of food science and production. It will also provide stakeholders and target groups in the food industry with a readily available xR tool which they can use in industries.

Project Website

https://www.um.edu.mt/projects/foster-xr

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 277035 Eur

Project Coordinator

UNIVERSITA TA MALTA & Country: MT

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN
• ASSOCIATION DE COORDINATION TECHNIQUE POUR L’INDUSTRIE AGROALIMENTAIRE
• MAKEDONIKI VIOMIHANIA GALAKTOS ANONIMOS ETERIA (MEVGAL SA)
• ELLINIKOS GEORGIKOS ORGANISMOS – DIMITRA
• UNIVERSITY OF MACEDONIA