REFRESH

Unlocking potential of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research for reinforced ERA integration and regional development

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The REFRESH Project is designed to unlock the potential of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Science (IAR&FR), located in Warmia and Mazury province in Eastern Poland, the most underdeveloped part of the country. IAR&FR is the highest quality research entity in this region and the best Institute in the domain of agricultural research in Poland; it is an EC Centre of Excellence – “CENEXFOOD” and National Centre of Excellence “BIOANIREP”. Recruitment of 2 Managers and 6 experienced researchers will reverse ‘brain drain’ phenomenon and purchase of 5 pieces of major equipment will build very attractive research environment at the Institute. Over 200 months of two-way staff exchange with 14 leading European institutes and staff training on specialised courses will strengthen Institute’s expertise in three priority research areas: Food, Biodiversity and in particular - Health. Tailored dissemination of Project results and acquired knowledge will generate improvement of the Institute’s national and international visibility and recognition as reliable partner for cooperation within ERA. Through these measures special attention is paid to the needs of regional end-users: administration at national and local level, research authorities and agri-business (farm producers, industrial partners) and the general public. Once accomplished, the Project will become the basis for Institute’s increased contribution to the sustainable socio-economic development of Warmia and Mazury. Exploiting the Project’s foreground will appear by initiation of specific actions in the areas of food, health and biodiversity preservation. Taking into account the agricultural character of the region and the highest quality of research conducted at IAR&FR, support for innovations implementation to regional SME’s will be particularly appreciated since the ambition of the Institute is to maintain its position as an innovation engine in the region.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

EU funding has helped to unlock the potential of eastern Poland's Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research (IAR&FR) of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The IAR&FR is the leading research body in eastern Poland and the country's premier research institute. It is also an EU Centre of Excellence. In order to maintain its position as an engine for innovation in the region, the Institute took on new expert staff members and acquired new state-of-the-art research equipment.

New additions were made possible thanks to the REFRESH (Unlocking potential of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research for reinforced ERA integration and regional development) project, funded under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The initiative focused specifically on the research areas of food, biodiversity and health.

Two managers and six experienced researchers were recruited. Three of the researchers were experts in health issues, two of them specialising in obesity. This led to the establishment of a new research project called http://welcome.pan.olsztyn.pl/ (WELCOME) (Nutrition and ambient temperature during early development can reduce susceptibility to obesity).

This study resulted in the appointment of an international team. It comprised four postdoctorate researchers, six PhD students, three research associates and four undergraduate students.

Provision of new equipment enabled the research team to remain competitive. To date, REFRESH has enabled the purchase of systems for monitoring continuous changes in food and water intake and the body weight of mice. A total of 105 research staff participated in training courses in the field of specialised software and operation of the new equipment.

A number of workshops, seminars and exchange programmes with leading European institutes contributed to the exchange of knowledge and to capacity building. This also resulted in several bilateral research partnerships.

Dissemination activities played a key role in raising the visibility of the institute and the success of REFRESH projects. These activities included a project website, the use of social media, press releases, media coverage, and output from conferences and workshop activities. They addressed policymakers, industrial partners, scientists and the general public.

IAR&FR organised and participated in local and national science festivals and open days to enhance public understanding of the Institute's research activities and to promote scientific careers among young people. The Institute's scientists were invited as experts to address issues of public concern during radio broadcasts and their research was presented in popular science programmes on TV.