SME network (NTC I) and SME training (NTC II)

NTC I and NTC II Leader Susanne Braun, Stuttgart University, Germany

 

1. Integration of SME Partners in PathogenCombat

 

The Partner SMEs will be linked to PathogenCombat by the Project homepage (www.pathogencombat.com) from the beginning of the project. The food processing SME Partners will be linked with identified research Partners as described in WP13 and these Partners will approach the SMEs in the beginning of the project through visits to prepare for the collaboration. The visits will be reported briefly to the NTC I Leader.

 

2. Building the virtual SME network

This network will foster participation of regulatory agencies. The SMEs and regulatory agencies will be identified by contacts to national SME organisations and governmental bodies, including food safety authorities, through personal contacts of Project participants and the internet. Technical, national and European Journals will be used to make SMEs aware of PathogenCombat which will also be presented at various EU brokerage events, to the extent possible. Telephone, questionnaires and personal interviews will also be used. SMEs and regulatory agencies from INCO countries will be contacted. The virtual network should be established during the first 18 months of the Project. The network is seen as an opportunity for European and INCO SMEs as well as their regulatory bodies for mutual interaction creating a so far non-existing win-win situation.

 

3. Sustainability of the virtual network

A strategy will be defined and procedures outlined on how to ensure the sustainability of the virtual network during and after the end of PathogenCombat.

 

4. Procedure for monitoring dissemination of knowledge and the impact of PathogenCombat in

   SMEs

The procedure will be worked out from the start of the project and applied throughout the project period.

 

5. Risks and contingency planning

Failures in the transition from research to practical application in SMEs and the spread of Project deliverables throughout Europe by the SME virtual network is a risk which has been taken into consideration. The risks should be analysed and monitored thoroughly to ensure timely reallocation of resources for their elimination.

 

The NTC Pillar will include following tasks:

Task NTC I 1.1            Development of an improved method for the integration of SME Partners into EU-

          funded projects.

Task NTC I 1.2            Optimized integration of the SME Partners into PathogenCombat.

Task NTC I 2.1            Identification of relevant European regulatory bodies, SMEs, and organizations for

          the creation of a virtual network.

Task NTC I 2.2            Creation of a successful virtual network between authorities, organizations, SMEs

         and SME consulting companies with the aim of an effective dissemination of

          PathogenCombat deliverables.

Task NTC I 2.3            Links with SMEs and regulatory bodies in INCO countries.

Task NTC I 3.1            Assurance of the sustainability of the virtual network.

 

Training (NTC II)

Training and dissemination of project deliverables will be organised in three levels. Level one will address the food processing SMEs Partners of PathogenCombat and ensure dissemination and implementation of Project deliverables as described in WP13 Application in the Food Chain. At Level two training will be offered to SMEs outside PathogenCombat in terms of several regional workshops to disseminate knowledge and teach the participants the application of Project deliverables including the Food Safety Management System developed. SMEs from accession and INCO countries will be included. Level three will be pan-European and based upon the SME network created in NTC I including national and European SME organisations as well as regulatory agencies. Level three will include participation from accession and INCO countries.

 

The NTC Pillar II will comprise the following dissemination and training activities:

 

T1 - Introduction to Partner SMEs to culture independent techniques (WP4), micro-arrays  

       (WP5) and resuscitation and enrichment methods (WP6)

A two days introductory course dealing with the theoretical aspects of the techniques will be arranged by Partner 12 in project year 3. The course will be based upon draft method descriptions prepared by Partner 8, Partner 12 and Partner 14.

 

T2 - Implementation of validated culture independent techniques (WP4), micro-arrays (WP5)

       and resuscitation and enrichment methods (WP6) in Partner SMEs

For implementation of the validated techniques a two days laboratory course will take place in Project year 4 arranged by Partner 8 and Partner 12. The course will be based upon method descriptions prepared by Partner 8, Partner 12 and Partner 14.

 

T3 – SME workshops

For a total of approx. 150 SMEs five workshops will be arranged. The workshops will take place in year 4. It will be based upon the method descriptions mentioned above. The leader of NTC II will be responsible. Invitations will be announced over the internet, by leaflets, through various organisations and by direct contacts established by Partners. Regulatory agencies as well as SMEs from INCO countries will also be invited.

 

T4 - Training in Food Safety Management

The first activity will be development and implementation of the system in the food processing SME Partners. Partner 14 and Partner 37 will interact with SMEs as described in WP15. The activity will start in Project year 3 and continue through year 4 and 5.

The second activity will be transfer of the System developed to about 150 SMEs at the workshops as described above (T3). The training will be based upon the generic System developed in WP15 and it will take place in Year 4.

 

T5 - Training in the application of protective and probiotic cultures.

Training in use of selected cultures and prebiotics in the food processing SME Partners will be the responsibility of Partner 17 in Spain, Partner 19 in Italy, Partner 5 in Germany and Partner 18 in Cyprus. The cultures to be used will be prepared and delivered by Partner 26.

For the respective SMEs a process description will be prepared by Partner 26. From these descriptions an overall description of the use of protective cultures and prebiotics will be prepared by Partner 26 in collaboration with Partner 5, Partner 17, Partner 18 and Partner 19. This activity will take place in Project year 3.

 

T6 - Training in Hygienic Processing Systems

For new promising design, methods or procedures, training will be offered to Partner SMEs by Partner 21 (responsible), Partner 22, Partner 23, Partner 24 and Partner 25. Descriptions of the applicable designs, methods or procedures will be prepared and integrated in the Generic Food Safety Management System developed in WP15 for European wide dissemination. The techniques will also be presented by Partner 21 at the workshops described above.

 

T7 - Training in New Processing Technologies

For new promising technologies identified in WP12 Partner SMEs will be offered the possibility to visit Partner 14 or relevant equipment producers to familiarise with the technique. Process descriptions of applicable techniques will be prepared by Partner 14 and integrated in the Generic Food Safety Management System developed in WP15 for European wide dissemination. The techniques will also be presented by Partner 14 at the workshops, as mentioned above.

 

T8 - Dissemination of Generic Food Safety Management at the European level

The virtual network established in NTC I will be used for dissemination of the Generic Food Management System to food industries and regulatory bodies in Europe. The system will be made available electronically from the homepage of PathogenCombat (www.pathogencombat.com). The system will be available in various versions from the beginning of Project year 4 and be revised on a regular basis by Partner 37 until the final version is reached at the end of the project. The dissemination will be supported by leaflets.