ANTARES
Project for the transformation of the BioSense Research and Development Institute of Serbia into an EU Centre of Excellence for Advanced Technologies in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security
Description
The ANTARES project has targeted the transformation of the BioSense Institute in Novi Sad, Serbia, into an application-oriented, market-driven European Centre of Excellence (CoE) for advanced technologies in sustainable agriculture and food security. The project has focused on three pillars of sustainability, including a strong research infrastructure, necessitating the construction of a new building and the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment, a dedicated human resources plan, and scientific excellence.
Technology
The CoE project leverages various disciplines and technologies, including material sciences, micro-and nanoelectronics, signal processing, sensor design, remote sensing, Internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence, big data and biosystem research, with key milestones that include the establishment of Serbia’s first Digital Village and the launch of the AgroSense Digital Platform (https://agrosens.rs/#/app-h/welcome) – a one-stop-shop for precision agriculture in Serbia that can be accessed free of charge by its thousands of users
Target
The ANTARES project has targeted a diverse range of stakeholders including the scientific community (researchers, scientists, and academic institutions), the agricultural sector (including such private actors as farmers, agribusinesses and agricultural technology companies), and government and policymakers (Serbian government bodies and the European Union).
Business model
The project has been funded by the European Union, with a total cost of EUR 14 003 473.75
Impact
The first 63 months of the ANTARES project saw an increase in human capital at BioSense Institute, contributing to a prolific output of scientific publications, patents and prototypes. The project has attracted international funding and a Joint Strategic Research Agenda has been established in collaboration with Wageningen University, focusing on sensor technology and robotics, data-driven solutions and agro-biodiversity.
Partners
Stichting Wageningen Research; Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development; DLO
Four Betters
Better production
Better environment
Better life
