1. Project management
Efficient administrative execution of the project includes the coordinated management of technical, financial, and legal aspects. Under the WP, we will streamline communication and reporting between consortium partners and the European Commission; ensure task compliance, including proper use of resources, high-quality work, and adherence to target timelines; and organize risk management and contingency planning.
2. Establishment and implementation of the ECB managerial structure
Establishing the Estonian Centre for Bioengineering (ECB) Advisory Board, the ECB Management Board, and the Bioeconomy Development Foundation (BDF); and recruiting appropriate members for the boards and foundation. Under this WP, key ethical and risk management plans will also be defined.
3. Specification of long-term R&I strategy – establishing the BDP
DigiBio aims to develop the first open informatics platform – the Bioengineering Digitalization Platform – to support data-focused biofoundries. Drawing on the Technical University of Denmark’s (DTU) experience in combining a mixture of commercial and in-house tools, we will develop a platform supporting biofoundry operations in DigiBio, with the potential for expansion through the Global Biofoundry Alliance.
4. Specification of long-term R&I strategy – establishing the Biofoundry
Purchase and installation of major equipment essential for the foundation of the Biofoundry. Testing and integrating equipment and software together with establishing methodologies and developing new workflows within a pilot project will facilitate new projects and cross-sector partnerships for the associated research groups.
5. Academic career, education and training
This WP aims to expand the current training, upgrade the curricula, and develop students’ and employees’ academic and industry career perspectives through detailed career development plans, secondment periods at our partner centre in Copenhagen, and empowering research-oriented career paths for Principal Investigators and group leaders at ECB.
6. Long-term sustainability of scientific excellence and research funding
We aim to maintain and strengthen research excellence through efficient human resource management, including the recruitment of highly skilled staff and R&D top talent, complemented by tailor-made training. We demonstrate the impact of ECB R&D digital bioengineering in Estonia in achieving long-term sustainability. We aim for start-ups and industrial R&D contracts to bring resources for post-project sustainability and secure continuous governmental support. We will establish a long-lasting partnership with the DTU, complemented by additional international cooperation to further the ECB’s competitiveness. We will create strong business-academia ties that increase the societal, financial, and environmental impact in the medium-to-long term and spur the Estonian economy.
7. Outreach, dissemination, and communication
The project partners will ensure the efficient communication, exploitation, and dissemination of DigiBio activities through networking and participation in conferences and fairs. This will ensure effective and productive communication andprovidevisibility to the project, promoting the ECB among external stakeholders, engaging with policymakers, and steering local innovation policies and central investments towards biotech.