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Seeking novel proposals to improve water use efficiency both in manufacturing and in agriculture

• Posted by PepsiCo
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• Project Size : Strategic project backed by large scale funding €

PepsiCo’s business depends on water, and as such, we have a vested interest, and responsibility, to conserve and protect it at all points along our value chain. PepsiCo is seeking technology/approaches to improve water use efficiency both in manufacturing and in agriculture and to replenish the water used in manufacturing to local watersheds. Technologies/approaches addressing water usage in agriculture, the manufacturing process or the processing of waste-water will be considered. Solutions may also include atmospheric water generation or unlocking use of “source” water (improved RO, ZLD, inexpensive filtration).

Seeking moisture barrier for paper substrate - Flexible Packaging

• Posted by PepsiCo
• ·
• Project Size : Strategic project backed by large scale funding €

We have been working on paper base structures as a potential option for our flexible food packaging to help with our sustainability goals of having 100% RCB compliance for our packages by 2030. While flexible package is a very sustainable option from a material use point of view, the multi-layer multi-material structures are not conducive for recycling and mostly end up in the landfill or as litter. Paper helps us with the end of life issues and can be recyclable, biodegradable and compostable. Maintaining packaging performance such as shelf stability, oxygen and moisture barrier are a must on this project. Oxygen barrier is not a problem with current technologies available but achieving the very high moisture barrier required for packaging dry foods has been a challenge. We understand that new technologies will be needed to achieve the high moisture barrier requirements (< 0.3 g/m2/day under Tropical conditions). Also, it is important to maintain this barrier under forming conditions in the VFFS process of bag-making. We are looking for novel solutions that can be added to the paper, if possible, as a high functional coating applied through flexographic or rotogravure process and/or a skin layer with high functionality that can anchor metal (metallization). The functional layer/coating must be compliant with paper recycling process and biodegradable/compostable.

Seeking Robotic Enabled Cleaning Solutions

• Posted by The Procter & Gamble Company
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• Project Size : 50,000 - 250,000 €

looking to identify robotic devices, components, and/or accessories that enable automated hard floor cleaning in a quick and convenient way.

Intelligent system for autonomous control in robotics cooperation

• Posted by Universidad de Alcalá-OTRI
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• Knowhow and Research output

Over the last decade, there has been a strong scientific and industrial concern in robotic cooperation. From problems of surveillance in industrial, commercial or domestic environments, or rescue and help in catastrophic areas, till problems of efficient package delivery in companies like Amazon or DHL, require mathematical optimization algorithms that solve these problems optimally and efficiently through the deployment of cooperative robot teams. The cooperatTive ExploRation Routing Algorithm (TERRA) is a planning system that, using artificial intelligence techniques, allows a team of robots to combine their capabilities to complete more complex tasks. For this, TERRA implements a novel robotic cooperation paradigm that offers a solution to the problems mentioned in the previous paragraph. This exploration paradigm uses a ground vehicle to reach terrestrial targets and, a drone team to reach the aerial targets. Unlike other route planners, TERRA coordinates and plans efficient routes that meet the objectives set in the shortest time with the greatest cost savings.

CogniSense reduces machine downtime through remote system-level monitoring

• Posted by Imperial Innovations
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• Patents for licensing

The effective remote monitoring of rotating equipment such as HVAC systems or conveyor belts is valuable to ensure reduced downtime and peak operating efficiency. Researchers from Imperial College have developed CogniSense; an IoT device that can monitor machine state-of-health accurately, for any mechanism exhibiting cyclical motion. By transmitting a radio signal and detecting the response, a signal corresponding to the motion of the distinct machine components (e.g. gears and bearings) can be captured and analysed. CogniSense even works through walls, and a single device can be used to monitor multiple machines (rather than requiring individual on-board mounting like other existing systems).

HUMIX GUT-ON-A-CHIP

• Posted by Lidia Aguilera from University of Luxembourg
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• Innovative Products and Technologies

HUMIX is a modular, microfluidics-based model which allows co-culture of human and microbial cells under conditions representative of the gastrointestinal human–microbe interface. Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms11535