TARGET GROUP TIMETABLE PROGRAM AWARDS
This Program aims to motivate and challenge master's and postgraduate students of the Escola Superior de Biotecnologia of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, and to scientifically identify and apply the latest food trends that meet the requirements of health and well-being for individuals and families, in an increasingly critical environmental context.
Thus, the program’s challenge is to develop a new Product/Prototype in the Agro-Food area that responds to new food trends, and takes into account the following priorities:
- Reconvert and regenerate the environment – Diversify the origins, in Agriculture and Fisheries, of the raw materials for the processed foods industry.
Contribute to progressively converting the production of these traditionally intensive and polluting sectors to become more differentiated and "planet-friendly".
Incorporate into new food trends, raw materials such as meat, cereals, vegetables, legumes, fruits and milk, and actively seek diversification of the offer to reduce its environmental impact while respecting nutritional needs.
- Motivating, innovating and consolidating new food trends in the context of the circular economy
New food trends should promote the evolution and conversion of the Agriculture and Fisheries sectors towards ecological sustainability. They should also be scientifically supported, since these trends act slowly and progressively as a "silent enabler" of the reconversion of the agricultural and food industry.
The mentoring should contribute to aligning the Agroindustry with positive food trends through proposals for new products that appeal to all those involved in the food value system.
- Closer ties between the Agro-Industry and the University
The University is investing in knowledge to realize the shift from a linear to circular economy. To remain relevant in a context of changing food trends and demands of modern life, the Agro-Industry needs to actively seek out the University, support it, and recruit students who master the new sciences and technologies.
Arménio Miranda can monitor innovative projects involved in the competition in all their phases, from conception, through product development, prototyping in an industrial environment to their market launch.
Projects should interconnect with other areas, such as Food Safety, Microbiology, Packaging and Sensory Analysis, whenever possible.
This program aims to develop innovative and sustainable food products at every stage, from concept, formulation, manufacturing process, and packaging to the market and business plan.
It is targeted at teams of (2 to 6) master’s and post-graduate students from the ESB with skills in areas relevant to the development of New Products / Prototypes in the Agro-Food sector.
- Applications: March 2023
- Submission of the project: by June 15, 2023
- Project presentation: June 20 - 30, 2023
- Jury's final evaluation: by July 15 2023
- Presentation of the "Inovação/Comendador Arménio Miranda" Awards (*)
(*) - The awards are given by Arménio Miranda as part of this joint initiative with ESB-UCP.
The prizes are awarded in full by Mr Arménio Miranda in this joint initiative with the Escola Superior de Biotecnologia of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
First Prize: €1,000
Second Prize: €1,500
Third Prize: €1,000