Green Technology Foresight about challenges from biotechnology and ICT Erasmus Project

Project Title

Green Technology Foresight about challenges from biotechnology and ICT

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 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Quality and Relevance of Higher Education in Partner Countries

Project Summary

The future challenges and possible environmentally related competitive advantages are linked to the two generic technologies – Biotechnology and ICT. They are reducing and preventing the negative impacts of humans technology on environment and health, and ensure the potential of future sustainable development. In this context discussions about the environmental aspects of biotechnology and ICT and how they are shaped in interaction with HE trends is performed. This is also important as ICT technology is seriously embedded into many new biotechnological processes, products, etc. This outlined the project objectives to develop HE prospects for integrated environmental and innovation training in relation to interaction of biotechnology and digital technology areas. The objectives pursued and the innovative education offered will be focused on target groups in the following directions:
– to define the applications of digital technologies in biotechnology
– to create, using ICT, a virtual space and educational content, enriched with visual elements and simulations
– to apply EQF/NQF/HE principles for qualification development ensuring technical competence and skills of target groups
– to show the innovative character of digital technologies and their effect on green industry

The project partnership is created with understanding for the HEs needs to shift educational policy from “knowledge” to “competence” and for introduction of LOs and ECTS within the Biotechnology & ICT education for green technologies development. It unifies EU partners from BG, GR, DE, IT, FR and comprises three HEIs, two SMEs with core activity in fostering quality standards in educational and Biotech management, and two R&D Centers having core expertise in implementation of sustainable scientific, educational and social practices.

The project methodology is based on System Development Life Cycle concept, which divides the project lifetime into four Phases and seven Tasks/Activities: Arrangement of project management & administration; Project start up; Methodological framework & work plan; Intellectual Outputs production; Approbation of project deliverables; Performance of Dissemination & Use; Assurance of durable effect of project.

During the project life cycle the following results will be developed:
I) A comprehensive digital educational platform comprising Intellectual Outputs in the frame of Biotechnology and ICT, designed as LOs:
O1: The Drivers of Digital technology and ICT in HE: A Case Study, examining the contribution of contemporary learning technologies to the institutional modernization.
O2: Open Content Platform, an innovative tool using blended learning approach for a self-paced, free source of online education in the field of ICT for green Biotechnology.
O3: Learning Area & Reference Model which will be focused on the development of the training programme and formulation of LOs/BLPs.
O4: Guide “Teaching and learning in HE” designed for academic professionals and offering both the essentials of effective HE teaching and guidelines how to use the project web platform.
O5: Students Smart Kit elaborated for BSc/MSc students and describing strategies for effective learning and the opportunities in the project.
O6: Science for Educational Resources comprising latest innovations in the field of ICT for green Biotechnology and encompassing case studies, presentations, videos, visualizations, 3D-educational images, etc.

The programme will be realized through actions assigning the following results:
II) Results for project management & administration: derived during project conceptual design; complementing the Intellectual Outputs; processing multiplier events; assisting training programme piloting; related to project D&U; linked with Digit-BioTech sustainability provision.
III) Results dedicated on the MEs performance and popularization of all project deliverables.
IV) Results related with the organisation of TPMs.

The expected impact of Digit-BioTech project is directly connected with the innovative achievements anticipated by it. The generic innovations that outline prospects for durable impact are focused on:
– Development of innovative training materials and practical teaching and guidance tools oriented towards project targets
– LO-based educational approach – offered in a blended mode and contributing to introduction of a training approach leading towards qualification
– Amalgamation of a virtual space and educational content thus implementing digital strategies in HE training
The potential of long-term benefits from the Digit-BioTech project is grounded on the envisaged possibilities for:
– Implementation of project outputs into national educational systems at formal institutions and in-company training departments
– Capacity development of HEIs to support and build up employability
– Mobilizing science and technology and foster capacity for innovation
– Improving the social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 253931 Eur

Project Coordinator

SOFIA UNIVERSITY ST KLIMENT OHRIDSKI & Country: BG

Project Partners

• PANEPISTIMIO DYTIKIS ATTIKIS
• SMART Project and Consulting
• ALMA MATER STUDIORUM – UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA
• SOKO-Institut für Sozialforschung und Kommunikation
• TSENTAR ZA IZSLEDOVATELSKA I RAZVOJNA DEYNOST BIOINTEH
• CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS
• ETHNIKI SCHOLI DIMOSIAS YGEIAS