GreenDigiPharma · Green and digital continuous-flow pharmaceutical manufacturing
Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2023-01-01 → 2026-12-31
- EU contribution
- €2,605,882
- Participants
- 18
- Scheme
- HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Green and digital continuous-flow pharmaceutical manufacturing
The GreenDigiPharma project aims to transform pharmaceutical manufacturing by promoting greener, more sustainable practices through advanced technological and digital innovations. The pharmaceutical industry, while a significant contributor to economic growth and public health, faces mounting pressure to reduce its environmental footprint. The industry is among the highest polluters within the chemical sector, with high "E-factors" indicating excessive waste production. As demand for pharmaceuticals continues to grow in the EU, there is an urgent need to develop manufacturing processes that minimize hazardous chemicals, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enable the recycling of materials in a circular economy. Additionally, ensuring a swift and efficient supply of life-saving drugs without production bottlenecks remains a critical priority. GreenDigiPharma addresses these challenges by adopting greener approaches, including continuous-flow manufacturing processes, innovative catalysis techniques, and the integration of digital tools like AI and machine learning. However, sustainable transformation is not just about technology: it requires a new generation of highly skilled researchers trained to lead the green transition in pharmaceutical manufacturing. As a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network, this project provides interdisciplinary training in catalysis, flow chemistry, AI-driven process optimization, and industrial implementation, equipping the recruited doctoral researchers with expertise at the interface of chemistry, engineering, and digital technology. Through this initiative, the project not only advances green manufacturing technologies but also ensures that the next generation of scientists is prepared to implement these solutions in both research and industrial settings, paving the way for a more sustainable pharmaceutical future.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Greening and digitalizing pharmaceutical manufacturing is one of the grand challenges of Europe's pharma-industry. It offers a significant opportunity to boost productivity, improve competitiveness and reduce the industry large environmental footprint. Current progress is impaired by shortage of trained engineers and scientists, who can design green and digital pharmaceutical processes.This MSCA doctoral network will focus on addressing these skills gaps, delivering a cohort of highly-skilled and trained PhD graduates that will lead the green and digital transformation of the pharmaceutical manufacturing, both in academic and industrial environments. The consortium brings together 7 universities, 1 research center, and additional 11 associated members from academia and industry. This will address urgent topics in continuous green manufacturing and develop greener routes to prepare pharmaceutical products, promoting the adoption of novel technologies (flow synthesis instead batch methods, heterogeneous nano and biocatalysis in lieu of homogeneous catalysts, renewable carbon sources, novel purification methods, digitalization tools) for sustainable manufacturing.Specific PhD topics for 10 ESRs have been outlined. The research and training programme will equip the ESRs with key scientific and transferable skills, such as IPR, entrepreneurship, data and innovation management. The consortium strong track record in the management of interdisciplinary research and training will ensure effective and timely training of the next-generation leaders of Europe’s pharma-industries. The exposure to academic and industry sectors will also provide the researchers with unparalleled career opportunities.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- POLITECNICO DI MILANO · MilanoCoordinatorItaly
- C2CAT BV · Ter AarNetherlands
- CHROMACON AG · ZurichSwitzerland
- DATAHOW AG · ZurichSwitzerland
- DOMPE FARMACEUTICI SPA · MilanoItaly
- Dalian University of Technology · DalianChina
- FEYECON DEVELOPMENT & IMPLEMENTATION BV · WeespNetherlands
- King Faisal UniversitySaudi Arabia
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory - Accelerator Technology and Applied Physics Division · BerkeleyUnited States
- Procos Spa · CameriItaly
- UNIVERSIDAD DE CORDOBA · CORDOBASpain
- UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL DE CAMPINAS · Campinas SpBrazil
- UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI BARI ALDO MORO · BariItaly
- UNIVERSITEIT GENT · GentBelgium
- UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM · AmsterdamNetherlands
- UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANI · LjubljanaSlovenia
- Uniqsis Ltd · SheprethUnited Kingdom
- VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK N.V. · MolBelgium
Links
- View on CORDIS
- DOI: 10.3030/101073089
- https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/documents/downloadPublic?documentIds=080166e50045b575&appId=PPGMS
Data: CORDIS, © European Union