EEA School on Adding Value to Food Side Streams
Reykjavik, Iceland
October 2021

A third of all food globally is lost and wasted. Recognizing food production side streams as valuable raw materials and finding their new applications in different industries is key to a sustainable use of resources and reduction of food waste. Would you care to help us fight for the future of food? We are searching for motivated and talented students who will join us in a School in Iceland and work with us to transform side streams from wasteful to tasteful. Using personal experience and university backgrounds, 10 candidates from Poland and 10 recruits from Iceland will create new concepts and business ideas on how to valorise side streams and reduce food waste.

In a 10-day course coached by professional tutors from Matís Iceland, University of Iceland and Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research (Poland) the participants will explore the most burning topics related to agri-food side streams. How to control them? How to recognize their value? What is their environmental and social imprint? How to manage better and add value to animal and plant-based raw materials? Exposed to state-of-the art enterprises and top-class experts they will design and develop business models to find the new value in waste. Participants will work in interdisciplinary teams, identifying problems, prototyping viable solutions with a validated value proposition and pitching their projects in front of a panel of professionals.

The School in Adding Value to Food Side Streams culminates with a Food Hackathon that will give students the floor to put their new knowledge and skills into work!

What is it about?

The School on Adding Value to Food Side Streams will recruit talented students and young researchers to improve their entrepreneurial and managerial skills to solve complex challenges and enhance innovation.

Increase awareness: On social and environmental responsibility of food producers. And on ideas and opportunities on improving food side streams utilization

Building ideas: Team up with students and young professionals with diverse backgrounds and face the opportunities and challenges associated with valorisation of side streams in the food industry.

Concepts and Products Development: Apply venture creation methodology to develop new food concepts, products and start-up businesses.

Networking: Experience the melting pot of ideas with students and young entrepreneurs Soft skills and entrepreneurship training: Improve your entrepreneurial and managerial skills to solve complex multidisciplinary challenges and enhance innovation.

Apply to School on Adding Value to Food Side Streams 2021

Recruitment for the participants from Poland has been closed.

We are now recruiting participants from Iceland.

Apply now

Programme Structure

This course is delivered through a variety of methods, including on-site sessions moderated by the course leaders, group ideation sessions with other participants and electronic material to work outside of class.

Everything you need to know

All undergraduate, graduate, PhD students, post-docs, early-stage researchers and young professionals who are working/studying in Poland (10 persons) and Iceland (10 persons) aged at least 18. There is no precondition concerning your study background.

The School on Adding Value to Food Side Streams 2021 will accept 20 participants in total (10 from Poland and 10 from Iceland). The School on Adding Value to Food Side Streams 2021 will accept 20 participants in total (10 from Poland and 10 from Iceland). The application deadline for the participants from Poland was 13th September 2021, 23.59 (CEST). Participants from Iceland may submitt their application until 5th October 2021, 23.59 (CEST). We will, however, fill the available spots on a rolling basis, according to our evaluation criteria, until they are full.

via the School Application portal. Applications via email or any other channels cannot be considered. If you are having trouble with the online submission, please try another browser or refresh the website. If you are still experiencing technical difficulties, please send us an email eeaschool@pan.olsztyn.pl

You will receive an invitation or rejection letter on the email address you provided in the application form by 16th September 2021.

We select students to take part in the School on Adding Value to Food Side Streams based on the following principles:

  1. You demonstrate open mindedness and entrepreneurial spirit;
  2. You are a team player ready to work in an interdisciplinary and international group;
  3. You are motivated to work on the challenges of valorising side streams in the food sector;
  4. You have a strong academic track record and, ideally, support community initiatives on a volunteer basis;
  5. You are proficient at English.

The School on Adding Value to Food Side Streams will take place onsite free of charge.

We will also cover:
  • your flight on the route Warsaw-Reykjavik-Warsaw;
  • accommodation in double rooms in a hotel in Reykjavik, Iceland;
  • meals – breakfasts, coffee breaks and refreshments;
  • transport to/from the School classes and during side visits to Icelandic companies.

All participants will receive a certificate at the end of the School on Adding Value to Food Side Streams as well as 3 ECTS points.

The participant is obliged to:
  • be at least 18 years of age and an undergraduate, graduate, PhD student, post-doc or a young scientific professional (under 35) when submitting the application;
  • be studying and/or working in Poland or Iceland;
  • have a valid identity document entitling them to cross the border of Iceland;
  • meet the following conditions:
    1. be vaccinated with a full vaccination course, and 14 days have elapsed since the administration of the last dose of vaccination (counted from the day following the day of administration of the last dose), vaccination must be certified by the EU digital COVID certificate or other document in English confirming vaccination with a vaccine that has been approved for turnover in the European Union;
    2. present a negative covid-19 test either a PCR or Rapid antigen test, certified by the EU digital COVID certificate or other document in English. The test must be completed no earlier than 72 hours before crossing the border or in accordance with current Icelandic guidelines; (see: https://www.covid.is/sub-categories/vaccination-and-antibodies)
  • pre-register their arrival to Iceland via https://visit.covid.is/
  • have a valid European Health Insurance Card for the entire duration of the School;
  • purchase at their own expense medical insurance with the sum insured of at least EUR 35,000 for the entire period of the stay in Iceland;
  • comply with the official procedures in Iceland required to cross the border and maintain their stay in the place of residence;
  • attend to and participate in all program activities of the School on Adding Value to Food Side Streams during the training period.

Who are we?

The School on Adding Value to Food Side Streams is a joint activity between partners that complement expertise in food side streams research and innovation.

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Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research PAS

​Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences is Poland’s foremost research entity in agricultural sciences. The versatile team of the Institute successfully integrates studies in food quality and safety, reproductive biology and aquaculture to design high quality food and fodder to optimize consumers and animals’ well-being. Institute provides a wide range of mentoring and networking activities to students and young professionals, and supports them in the development of their own research projects that can be transferred to food system-related solutions.

pan.olsztyn.pl
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University of Iceland

​The mission of the University of Iceland is to provide career counselling and academic counselling to students thus promoting personal, academic and career growth. Provide supervised training and practicum for students in the UI masters program in career counselling and guidance. Actively participate in outreach programs, national and international projects to strengthen the professional foundations of the UISCCC.

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Matís

​Matís vision is to increase the value and ensure safety of food processing and food production. Its strengths are in research and development in sustainable utilization of marine resources by managing and changing the supply chain of products to consumers and turning side streams and waste into valuable products through innovative biochemical processing. Several employees also hold associate positions within Iceland’s universities, while many Ph.D. students and M.Sc. students conduct their research at Matis in collaboration with the industry in Iceland and abroad.

matis.is

Disclaimer

In order to guarantee fluid and cooperative communication among the teams and other stakeholders, you agree:

  • to the distribution of relevant professional data from your CV/LinkedIn to other parties involved in the project (such as corporate partners, other participants, coaches, etc.). This information will be handled in accordance with the Polish data protection procedures.
  • treat any non-public knowledge you gain about the other involved parties (eg. speakers or corporate partners) with confidentiality. This commitment shall continue following the end of the program.
  • acknowledge that the School on Adding Value to Food Side Streams has the right to use all promotional materials, including but not limited to photographs, videos and testimonials made during the workshop weeks for future communication activities.

Acknowledgements

The Innovation, business creation and valorization of side streams of food production and food processing Bilateral Initiative benefits from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants. The aim of the project is to establish cooperation between institutions as well as improve the entrepreneurial culture, confidence and skills of graduate students and young scientists in Poland with a focus on the valorization of side streams in food production and food processing.

The EEA and Norway Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway towards a green, competitive and inclusive Europe.

There are two overall objectives: reduction of economic and social disparities in Europe, and to strengthen bilateral relations between the donor countries and 15 EU countries in Central and Southern Europe and the Baltics. The three donor countries cooperate closely with the EU through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). The donors have provided €3.3 billion through consecutive grant schemes between 1994 and 2014.

For the period 2014-2021, the EEA and Norway Grants amount to €2.8 billion.

The EEA and Norway Grants scheme consists of two financial mechanisms. The EEA Grants are jointly financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, whose contributions are based on their GDP. Norway Grants are financed solely by Norway.

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