The 4th consortium meeting of the CHEERS project took place in Vigo, Spain, on October 2nd and 3rd. The meeting was held at SYSPRO AUTOMATION facilities, a process engineering company with expertise in bioprocesses upscale, instrumentation, and control system engineering. On this occasion, the consortium met both in person and virtually to discuss the progress of the project’s second half and establish further actions for the coming months, fostering collaborative research and shared decision-making.

On the first day, participants were warmly welcomed into SYSPRO AUTOMATION facilities. During the morning, our colleagues from PROTEINSECTA and AQUALIA explained updates regarding the progress and next steps for the insect and microbial platforms, respectively (WP2 and WP3). After a coffee break, GENIA provided their insights on the progress from the integrated downstream process (WP4) and our colleagues from ZHAW, explained the progress carried out regarding environmental and economic impact assessment as well as exploitation strategy for CHEERS results (WP6).

Following the morning session, SYSPRO AUTOMATION gave the consortium a tour of their facilities to showcase their capabilities and show project updates first-hand, followed by a relaxed lunch break.

During the afternoon sessions, the scientific discussions were brought to a high point with the presentations from Work Packages 7 and 8, which focused on communication, dissemination, and effective project management. Notably, AINIA, Innovarum, and Earthwatch took the lead in these sessions, ensuring that the consortium’s findings were effectively communicated to a broader audience, thereby fostering a sense of collaboration. The day concluded with a guided tour across the historic city of Baiona, followed by a dinner featuring local products. This activity provided the consortium with a relaxed environment for informal networking, fostering connections that could potentially lead to future collaborations. It was a valuable opportunity for all participants to engage in meaningful discussions and strengthen their professional relationships.

The second day commenced with a return to Syspro Automation facilities. The day progressed with reporting on the project’s achievements to show the consortium the progress made by a collaborative effort. This was followed by coordination meetings among various work packages, to assess progress made and to discuss further actions in the upcoming months. The agenda concluded with lunch, providing participants an opportunity to reflect on the insights gained over the two-day event.

The results and synergies discussed during this meeting will be published over the next months. Stay tuned to our website and be the first to know how we are revolutionizing the beer industry.