FAQs

WHAT DO YOU DO?

Our group provides industry with new processes to convert plants and biowastes into high value products. We bridge the gap between laboratory development and commercial manufacture by providing open access scale-up processing facilities.

WHAT IS YOUR AIM?

Our group aims to develop greener manufacturing technologies that use renewables and wastes (even and not only agro-industrial residues) as secondary raw materials.

HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM OTHER RESEARCH CENTRES?

Our group offers a unique combination of analytical science, fast track plant development, novel extraction and processing technologies. In addition, the scale of our equipment allows us to bridge the gap between laboratory development and commercial manufacture.

DOES FEEDSTOCK DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE PREATREATMENTS OPTIMIZATION?

Yes, of course.

WHO CAN USE THESE FACILITIES AND ON WHAT BASIS?

Our facilities are open access – businesses and academics can use them. A limited amount of work can be funded through public funds for companies depending on their regional base. We are a not-for-profit centre so all other work, including commercial work and production, is undertaken on an at-cost basis.

WOULDN’T IT BE BETTER TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE RATHER THAN SPEND MONEY DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY TO RE-USE IT?

It is not an either or situation. In our centre we focus on optimising processes to reduce waste, but we also explore how unavoidable wastes can be used. Unavoidable wastes can include for instance: the outside coffee wastes, leaves of a cauliflower, straw from grain production or spent yeast from brewing or skins from tomatoe sauce or fruit juice production. These are not very nice to eat and are unavoidable.

HOW IS YOUR FUNDED BUSINESS SUPPORT FINANCED?

This work is paid for by Sapienza, Italian Ministry of University, European Projects and Companies.

CAN I GET FUNDED BUSINESS SUPPORT?

Sure, you can work with us on a commercial basis. Give us a call to discuss your particular circumstances – in some cases we may also be able to help you apply for other sources of funding to finance a project with us.

WHAT IS AN SME?

First of all let's say that you do not need to be a “Small or Medium Sized Enterprise” (SME) to work with us. This is a European Definition quite complex, but in general to be considered a SME your company must:

• Have less than 250 employees AND have a turnover less than €50m or a balance sheet less than €43m.

If your company is part of a group, then these limits apply to combined resources of the whole group. If your company has a shareholder which is not an SME, then that shareholding must be less than 25% for you to still qualify as a SME. If you need further guidance visit the website for more information.

Anyway, again, you do not need to be a SME to work with us!