Thus, the central objective of SusTEC is to go from Nature to Products through the implementation of sustainable practices and processes, and digital and clean technologies. SusTEC is organized in 3 thematic lines (TL):
TL1: Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Climate Change;
TL2: Food and Bio-based Solutions, and
TL3: Innovative and Tech-based SMEs.
TL1 acts in the improvement of agriculture systems, namely smallholder agriculture, natural resources management, and economic and rural development, following an integrated vision with climate variability and change.
TL2 tackles the development of high-value foods, natural-based ingredients and products for diverse industrial fields, through sustainable practices, which include the use of bio-residues, agroindustry side streams, recyclability, and green technologies.
TL3 addresses the application of novel knowledge and technologies supporting the modernization of industry to face the current challenges under the digital transformation context, promoting the creation of more innovative, technological and knowledge-based processes and systems that allow companies to be more competitive in national and international markets. Moreover, it will integrate also expertise in product and process development that along with the described areas of action will consolidate a more solid intervention in the technology-based industries. The use of digital and clean technologies will also play a crucial role in TL1 and TL2 in the development of such novel solutions, acting as a transversal vessel to achieve sustainability and competiveness.