POR Campania FESR 2000-2006
Measure 3.16 – Interventions and activity programs aimed at transferring innovative scientific results to the Campanian production system
The project
ProdAl has developed a project aimed at enhancing and transferring to small and medium-sized enterprises in the agri-food sector the outcomes of the previous Demonstrator Project carried out by the Regional Center of Competence for Agri-Food Production. The initiative enables the transformation of technological innovations and product enhancement measures into operational and replicable tools, ready for implementation in production environments.
The identified innovations, both in product and process, require an engineering phase: the conversion of research results into detailed actions that companies can easily apply. The objective of the project is therefore to transfer technological results through a structured approach that includes:
- Selection of transferable innovations, identifying those that are truly sustainable and applicable based on the company’s technical and organizational capabilities.
- Presentation and business consultancy, providing detailed reports on processes, achievable product characteristics, and the technical-economic benefits of implementing new production lines.
- Project schematization, including plant layouts, process flow diagrams, service requirements (energy, water, steam), and environmental impact assessments.
- Cost estimation and economic planning, ensuring that innovations are compatible with production capacity and the expected economic return.
- Definition of required resources, covering qualified personnel needs, laboratory support for quality and traceability, and potential certifications or commercial valorization of the product.
- Support for business planning, assisting in the preparation of business plans or marketing strategies.
ProdAl S.c.ar.l.’s activities, building on the Demonstrator Project, focus on selecting transferable innovations and developing flow sheets and business plan for each proposal. These tools convert engineering actions into concrete diagrams and documents that SMEs can use for objective evaluations and operational decision-making.
Main activities undertaken
Thematic workshops
Targeted meetings were organized for groups of companies based on innovation needs identified through ad hoc studies. Topics covered included: Non-thermal pasteurization using Pulsed Electric Fields; Ohmic Heating; High Hydrostatic Pressure; Reuse of waste materials and by-products; Materials and technologies for functional flexible packaging.
Face-to-Face meetings
Following the workshops, individual meetings were held with companies to explore innovations of specific interest. Companies prepared presentation sheets of their ideas, enabling the formulation of targeted interventions. Some meetings took place at the ProdAl booth and at exhibitors’ stands during the SIAL International Food Exhibition in Paris (October 2008).
Production plan schematization
ProdAl staff supported companies in defining innovations to be introduced into production processes, preparing implementation programs that include timelines, installation procedures, plant operations, layouts, and process flow diagrams.
Technical sizing plans
This phase involved the design and technical sizing required for the realization of prototypes at pre-industrial or industrial scale, where treatment units conforming to the technical specifications of innovative processes were not commercially available.
Business Plan
This phase involves the evaluation of prototypes developed with innovative technologies, market and profitability analysis, and the definition of positioning and commercialization strategies. It provides SMEs with a practical tool to plan the introduction of new products.
Thanks to this approach, SMEs gain access to tested technological innovations, supported by practical tools for their application, reducing risks, time, and costs, while increasing the competitiveness of the regional agri-food sector.
