We are thrilled to announce the successful launch of the Edible Soft Matter (ESM) project, officially initiated during its Kick-Off Meeting held on 31st of March and 1st of April at Brussels. The meeting brought together representatives from all beneficiary and partner institutions, marking the beginning of a promising and ambitious MSCA Doctoral Network.
The event opened with a warm welcome and the introduction of all participating institutions and consortium members, highlighting its rich diversity and interdisciplinarity. The project coordinator, Laurence Ramos, then presented the objectives and structure of ESM, outlining its scientific vision and the innovative contribution it aims to make in the field of food and soft matter science.
A detailed session was dedicated to legal, financial, and management aspects, ensuring that all participants are aligned on the administrative responsibilities and budgetary structure of the project. This was followed by a discussion on internal communication protocols and tools to ensure seamless collaboration across all partners.
The scientific core of the meeting focused on the presentation of the Work Packages (WPs), giving insight into the research challenges and methodologies that will drive the project forward. Each Individual Research Project (IRP) was also presented by its respective supervisor, setting the stage for the recruitment and training of our future Doctoral Candidates (DCs).
The consortium also discussed the ESM Training Programme, which will offer interdisciplinary, intersectoral, and international training designed to equip DCs with both scientific and transferable skills. This includes secondments, workshops, and joint training schools hosted across partner institutions.
Finally, we reviewed the Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation strategy to ensure that project results are effectively shared with scientific, industrial, and societal stakeholders, maximizing the impact of ESM beyond academia.
The Kick-Off Meeting concluded on a high note, with strong engagement from all participants and a shared commitment to the project’s success.
Stay tuned to our website and social media for updates as we move into the next phase of this exciting journey!
