Celebrating the end of the 1st year of the TecBioFood project, a meeting was held in Ourense, Spain, on January 29, 2025. This in-person gathering took place at the Campus Auga and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Vigo, bringing together partners to evaluate the progress achieved and plan the next steps of the initiative co-financed by the European Union's Erasmus+ Programme.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the University of São Tomé and Príncipe (USTP), the University Institute of Accounting, Administration and Informatics (IUCAI), and the University of Vigo. The Vice-Rector of the University of Vigo praised the project, highlighting its relevance in areas such as teaching, research, and knowledge transfer, which are pillars of the institution.

During the intensive work sessions, various crucial points were addressed. A detailed assessment of the project's status was conducted, focusing on management and quality assurance (WP1), cooperation for pedagogical innovation and higher education capacity building (WP2, with the presentation of online and in-person training activities), and impact and dissemination (WP5).

One of the central discussion points was the progress of Work Package 3 (WP3), which aims to create and implement a laboratory unit for food technology, safety, and quality. Procedures for equipment acquisition and the tender process for the works were discussed, with the active collaboration of the partners. The sustainability of the future laboratory and the training of technicians in STP were also highlighted as key points.

The meeting concluded with a small ceremony for the delivery of certificates to the participants of the TecBioFood Academy – online and in-person training that took place in the last quarter of 2024. The commitment shown by all involved is a positive outlook for the continued success of the TecBioFood Project.

The TecBioFood project – "Expertise and Technology for São Tomé and Príncipe: Bioresources for Food" – kicked off with an online meeting (Kick-off Meeting) on February 14, 2024, bringing together all partners to outline the first steps of this initiative co-financed by the European Union's Erasmus+

Coordinated by the University of Porto, the TecBioFood Project's main objective is to empower higher and technical education in São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) in the area of Food Science and Technology and Management, through the valorization of its bioresources, aiming at the sustainable development of the country.

The project, with an estimated duration from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026, involves the University of Porto, the University of Vigo, the University of São Tomé and Príncipe, the University Institute of Accounting, Administration and Informatics, and HELPO as an associated partner.

During the kick-off meeting, the crucial next steps for the project's implementation were discussed and approved. Among the topics addressed were the preparation of the work plan, the formalization of the Partnership Agreement, and the appointment of representatives for the Scientific, Management, and Quality Committees.

The TecBioFood project is structured into five Work Packages (WPs), promising a significant impact on São Tomé and Príncipe's agri-food sector, including the implementation of a Food Technology Laboratory at USTP and the integration of developed food products into school and hospital menus.

The TecBioFood project took a significant step in its implementation with its first in-person meeting (Transnational Project Meeting 2) on May 9 and 10, 2024, in the city of Porto. The gathering brought together the consortium partners to deepen the strategies and work plan of the initiative co-financed by the European Union's Erasmus+ Programme.

The meeting was attended by various personalities and teams from the partners, including the Rector of the University of Porto, Professor Doctor António Sousa Pereira, the Project Coordinator, Professor Olívia Pinho, and other faculty members and researchers from the University of Porto. The University of Vigo was represented by Professor Elena Carballo and Professor Sidónia Suarez. The University Institute of Accounting, Administration and Informatics (IUCAI) was represented by its Rector, Professor Doctor Agostinho Rita, and Professor Demóstene Pires, and the University of São Tomé and Príncipe (USTP) was attended by its Vice-Rector, Professor Doctor Raquel Moreno.

The two days of intensive work were divided between the Rectorate building of the University of Porto and the Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences (FCNAUP). The agenda included detailed discussions on project management and quality assurance (WP1), the overall work plan, and the progress of Work Packages (WP2, WP3, and WP5).

The meeting reinforced the commitment of all partners to the objectives of TecBioFood, which aims to empower higher and technical education in São Tomé and Príncipe, promoting the sustainable development of the country through the valorization of its food bioresources.

We invite our readers to take a look at the event's photo gallery, as well as the meeting agenda. We appreciate the dedication of all partners to the good progress of the Project.