Participating Projects.

SAFETechnoPACK

TUBITAK Marmara Research Center (MRC) Food Institute (FI) in Turkey aims to become one of the leading food science and technology institutes in the EU. In order to achieve its aim FI has analysed its weak points, and identified food packaging technologies as one of them.

Website: www.safetechnopack.org
Contact: Sena.Saklar@mam.gov.tr

The main objective of this project is to improve the scientific and technological (S&T) capacity of FI in food packaging technologies. It is believed that FI will increase its participation in FP7 projects by the achievement of the project aims. Specifically, it aspires to improve its research capacity in chemical contamination resulting from the food contact materials, and to develop new food packaging materials using nanotechnology and active packaging technologies.

SAFETechnoPACK addresses completely the general objectives of the FP7 REGPOT-2007-1 programme. In order to accomplish the main objective, FI has established the following specific objectives in line with the indicated project activities:

• Upgrading S&T equipment infrastructure: SAFETechnoPACK will enable FI to extend its scope of activities by renewing existing S&T infrastructure. New equipment is needed for novel approaches in food packaging technologies to increase scientific and technological capacity, participation in FP7 projects in new topics and contributing to RTD capacity building in Turkey.
• Recruitment of researchers: This involves the recruitment of two researchers in the field of chemistry and polymer science on new packaging technologies to extend the FI’s scope of activities to participate in FP7 projects,
• Networking, co-operative and dissemination activities: Such networking and co-operative activities are aimed at facilitating knowledge transfer of researchers working on food packaging in FI at regional, national and international levels. These activities will involve participation in international conferences and workshops on the relevant food packaging technologies, technical visits on packaging laboratory applications and analyses to centres in Member States (MS), and organization of brokerage events and international conferences in Turkey.
• Informing the public and the food industry: The importance of the safety of food contact materials in relation to food quality, food packaging, food storage and new packaging technologies has to be communicated. Relevant dissemination and information activities involve web page set-up, organisation of info days, preparation of leaflets, participation in international packaging fairs, and participation in FOOD CLUSTER initiatives to collaborate with European regions and projects.
• Improvement S&T experience and knowledge of researchers: This involves the improvement of scientific and technological experience of researchers by long term and short term training in MS, and exchange of know-how and experience by inviting expert scientists from MS.