Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 1 - UPMab (Unlocking the Potential of deep-sea Marine Algae and Bacteria)
Teaser
The UPMAB project intended to complete the expertise of COMEX S.A., a world known pioneer in deep-sea technology (while being an SME), with the needed profile of a marine biologist able to study and investigate novel methods for aquaculture in the future. COMEX’ motivation...
Summary
The UPMAB project intended to complete the expertise of COMEX S.A., a world known pioneer in deep-sea technology (while being an SME), with the needed profile of a marine biologist able to study and investigate novel methods for aquaculture in the future. COMEX’ motivation to start this project was to to open an activity in a new field of deep-sea mariculture.
Work performed
The UPMAB project had to be terminated unfortunately in the first months after its start. The Research Associate that fitted to the requirements was identified already before summer 2017 (several candidates were identified and COMEX has chosen Dr. Severine MARTINI after approval by the European Commission.
Severine started working on the UPMAB project on September 15th, 2018. Following the initial planning she started with the WP1 Survey of candidate deep-sea organisms that might have an exploitation potential for deep-sea aquaculture.
Three (non-technical) deliverables were produced within this period and submitted to the Participant Portal by the RA:
• D0.1 Project Roadmap
• D6.1 EPQ – Requirements No.1
• D6.2 EPQ – Requirements No.2
Unfortunately for the company, Severine found another position in a scientific expedition and decided to quit de project. Severine’s contract ended on 13th October 2017, right after the KOM at the European Commission in Brussels. In the one month or effective work at COMEX no significant progress was performed on the project. COMEX tried to hire a replacement for Dr. Martini and found a Serbian candidate (this person was actually one of the candidates shortlisted in summer 2017). Although this candidate was very motivated to work on the project it was not possible to settle the visa requirements fast enough to keep paste with the project schedule (including the training sessions provided by EC).
Consequently, the EC decided to terminate the contract in Januray 2018.
Following graphic shows the initial project’s planning and indicates the period where a RA was present at COMEX.
Final results
The subject is still of high importance for our SME and we still believe that the idea could be a game-changer in European maritime industry. Unfortunately due to recruitment problems COMEX was not able to maintain the project alive.