PARTNERS
UNIVERSITATEA VASILE ALECSANDRI DIN BACAU – Coordinator
“Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău (Universitatea “Vasile Alecsandri” din Bacău) is located in Bacău, the capital of Bacău County, in the North-East region of Romania. Since 1961, the university has progressively developed and carried on a tradition in the fields of education and research.
Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacău is an active presence in the regional development, is member of consultative group of North East Regional Development Agency to establish and implement the sustainable development strategy and partner of Bacau County Council.
University of Bacău has Research Centers in the field of Environment Engineering and Chemical, Biochemical and Food Engineering and the students, especially the students from doctoral program, develop an intense research activity in these areas.
University of Bacău offers, among other specializations and directly connected with the project activities, the following study programs: Environmental Engineering, Rural Sustainable Development, Food Products Engineering, Engineering and Management, Chemistry and Engineering of Processing and Product Recovery, Informatics, and Biology.
DIMOKRITIO PANEPISTIMIO THRAKIS – Partner
Democritus University of Thrace (DUTh), known in Greek as Dimokritio Panepistimio Thrakis, was established in 1973. Its administrative headquarters are located in Komotini, with administrative services also provided in other seven cities.
The university’s academic study offer spans a broad spectrum of disciplines. These include the School of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences with Departments based in Orestiada and Drama. The Department of Natural Environment & Climate Resilience has a very wide experience in international research projects related to many aspects of Circular Economy and sustainable rural and mountain management.
DOBA Faculty of Applied Business and Social Studies (DOBA) – Partner
DOBA Faculty of Applied Business and Social Studies (DOBA) is an independent private higher education institution based in Maribor, Slovenia, established in 2003. As a modern business school, DOBA is committed to fostering innovative individuals and promoting online learning. With a mission to spread knowledge and connect people who believe in success, DOBA offers undergraduate, graduate, and PhD programmes in business management, marketing, and applied psychology, all fully delivered online.
DOBA’s R&D work is carried out under its Business Institute, the E-Learning Institute and the recently established Centre for Business Coaching contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the modern business and educational landscape. It addresses the challenges emerging business trends, Industry 4.0 and market dynamics, Society 5.0, technology integration and e-learning enhancement, business coaching and leadership development, entrepreneurships and innovation ecosystems.
With extensive experience in European projects, DOBA focuses on themes of sustainable business and entrepreneurship as well as innovative education development.
FUNDACIO UNIVERSITARIA BALMES – Partner
University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic – UCC) was created on May 21st 1997, as an independent university with public sector supervision. UVic-UCC is under the authority of the Fundació Universitària Balmes. UVic-UCC involves in the project two Chairs: Rural World and Agroecology, and Food Systems. The teams aim to generate, disseminate and transfer knowledge about alternative food systems that enable a social transformation and “live” rural areas throughout the promotion of agroecology, knowledge co-generation, social and solidarity economy and social innovations.
Among others, the current research lines of the UVic – UCC are: global and sustainable development of rural territories; agroecology and social innovation in rural areas; adaptation to global environmental change; pastoralism as a high reliability system; food waste as a structural feature of agri-food system.
UNIVERSITETI FAN S. NOLI KORCE – Partner
“Fan S. Noli” University of Korça is a public higher education institution located in the city of Korça, Southeastern Albania.The university commenced its academic activities in January 1992; currently, “Fan S. Noli” University is organized into four faculties: the Faculty of Agriculture, the Faculty of Education and Philology, the Faculty of Economics, and the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Humanities.
The Faculty of Agriculture at “Fan S. Noli” University of Korça, which is the oldest one, aims to enhance academic and scientific standards through its educational programs. in the last year members of the Agribusiness Department implemented a national project that aimed to identify the main barriers to circular economy implementation in livestock farms.
SC ALMERA INTERNATIONAL SRL – Partner
S.C. ALMERA INTERNATIONAL SRL was established in 1996 and operates as a legal entity under Romanian law, as stipulated in its Constitutive Act. The company has an unlimited operational duration and is headquartered in Galati. Additionally, it has a work point in Bacau City, where it runs its Dairy Products Factory.
S.C. ALMERA INTERNATIONAL SRL operates in a sector that holds significant responsibility for consumer safety. For many years, the company’s products have been available in specialised stores and have consistently received positive feedback from consumers. The team of specialists within the company has also proposed numerous enhancements to its operations, resulting in the introduction of many new products, some of which are unique within the Romanian market.
AGROTIKOS SYNETAIRISMOS AGIOU ATHANASIOU DRAMAS – Partner
The Farmers’ Cooperative AGROTIKOS SYNETAIRISMOS PARAGOGON OPOROKIPEFTIKON, in English: “Farmers’ Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producers of Agios Athanasios, Drama”, (ASOP) was founded in 2005 and is recognised as a Producers’ Organisation (P.O.). It is based in the Municipal District of Agios Athanasios, Municipality of Doxato, Prefecture of Drama.
ASOP’s main activity is vertically integrated pomegranate farming through rational management of pomegranate plantation facilities, and the processing of pomegranate produce by selecting, packaging, and de-seeding and juice production at ASOP’s privately owned facilities, as well as the commercial utilisation of pomegranate products for the benefit of the Producer’s Group.
ASOP is available to its members with geotechnical staff and expert external technical consultants, in order to organise and correctly implement all phases of pomegranate cultivation, for the production of Certified Quality products, while respecting farmers, the environment, and consumer protection. Following this, strict collection, transportation, selection, and juicing procedures for fresh fruits and bottled pomegranate juice are implemented, in order to provide the consumers with high quality and nutritional value goods.
ASOP is opposed to the production of cheap products of low nutritional value, while placing special emphasis on the protection of the environment, sustainability, and environmentally friendly fruit processing methods. ASOP had established a wide cultivation network with high quality standards and significant importance to local economies.
ITC – INOVACIJSKO TEHNOLOSKI GROZD MURSKA SOBOTA – Partner
ITC – Innovation Technology Cluster Murska Sobota (ITC) is a non-profit Business Support Organisation located in the North-Eastern Slovenia. The Cluster was established in 2011 with the vision to foster cross-sectoral innovation and implementation of novel technologies and ICT in rural-based sectors. ITC’s main focus is to bring together target groups (such as SMEs, food system actors, farmers and other rural actors) and turn them into being “Smart”, thus creating a unique Europe-wide innovation-based eco-system, supporting the shift towards more resilient, healthy and environmentally, socially, economically sustainable rural areas.
ITC acts as a regional technology transfer intermediate, innovation centre and business support cluster, with interdisciplinary experts having strong international references, a network of institutions and extensive experience in conducting EU-funded projects and other projects focused on rural development, agriculture and food systems.
ITC cluster is the founder and main administrative office of the European Digital Innovation Hub – DIH AGRIFOOD (EDIH from 2022), bringing together Slovenian and European research and development expertise in the field of Agriculture, Food production & processing and food supply. DIH AGRIFOOD represents a One-Stop-Shop, providing services to organisations through a Multi-Actor Approach (MAA) cooperation, providing safe, sustainable and quality food while considering economic, environmental and social aspects and implications of food production, delivery and consumption.
KREAS – FUNDACIÓ PER A LA FORMACIÓ INTEGRAL EN INDÚSTRIES CÀRNIES I AGROALIMENTÀRIES – Partner
KREAS is a non-profit organization founded by the Federation of Meat Industries (FECIC), which represents more than 96% of Catalonia’s meat production, and the Balmes University Foundation (FUB), the governing body of the University of Vic -Central University of Catalonia, with a clear commitment to serving the local area and its businesses. The Foundation also has the support of the Olot City Council since its inception, which backed a successful project in the business and educational environment that directly impacts the economic and social fabric of the region.
Currently, KREAS is a leading entity in the food sector, with the main goal to support and develop the food industry. Since 2024, KREAS has also been an Integrated Vocational Training Center in the food industry professional family, authorized by the Public Agency for Vocational Training and Qualification of Catalonia, with the goal of continuing to contribute to the qualification of individuals and being a reference point for the workforce in the food sector.
FIX PRO Sh.p.k – Partner
FIX PRO is a growing meat processing company with a legacy from 2003. Initially starting with a limited range of products, FIX PRO has expanded its portfolio to approximately 100 high-quality products, continuously introducing innovations to the market. FIX PRO embodies the commitment to delivering precisely what customers seek – exceptional taste, high standards, and uncompromising quality. FIX PRO company’s mission and values guide their business approach, empowering their team to achieve the highest performance, which forms the foundation of the company culture. With main branches in Korçë, Tirana, and Fier, and distribution partners in Gjirokastër, Sarandë, Lushnjë, and Berat, the company ensures nationwide coverage and a huge potential for export extensions.