Technical feasibility

SECTION I: Testing

1	Has the R & D result been tested?
YES		Pilot applications for services on food traceability and prototypes for products
NO

If yes:

1a	In what mode has the result been tested? • Prototype • Pilot Application • Alpha/BETA testing
Prototypes Pilot applications
1b		Please describe and discuss the testing results
Prototypes : DNA probes capable of identifying more than 20 different plant species in food and feed have been produced and successfully tested. Pilot applications : Traceability services for the presence and identification of plant species in feed and food have been set up and provided to some client company.

If no:

1c	Describe what type of testing does the R&D result need?

1d		What is the time needed for testing?

1e		What is the cost needed for testing?

SECTION 2: Current Stage of Development

To what extent does the development team have technical resources for supporting the production of a new product? (Researchers, human resources, hardware, etc. )

For genetics, products and services are the result of innovative procedures set up in the lab of Dr. Breviario at CNR Milan. Procedures are protected by a European patent and an international PCT pending patent. Methods just wait the phase of launch that means coupling with market demand, in big figures. In such a perspective, they need to be brought to a further step of an efficient automation.

For metabolomics, services are based on home-made protocols. Developed by Dr. Consonni at CNR Milan, they just need instrument implementation in case of large demand.

What are the technical issues that need to be tackled for full deployment, if needed?

No major tasks.

For genetics: automation in the production of DPC code and use of newly developed probes in RT-PCR protocols.

For metabolomics: none.

What additional technical resources are needed for the production of this new product?

For genetics: a DNA analyzer and an RT-PCR machine.

For metabolomics: none.

2d	Overall assessment of the current stage of technical development.
For both genetics and metabolomics , business can start and grow together with the increase of the demand and the implementation of the instruments required for diagnosis

SECTION 3: Deployment

3a	Define the demands for large scale production in terms of
Materials
Reagents and disposables for molecular biology and biochemistry
technologies, tools, machineries
DNA analyzer RT-PCR machine
Staff effort
3 young researchers, 1 technician

SECTION 4: Overall Assessment

1	What is you overall assessment of the technical feasibility of the research result?
Sub-optimal. There are margins of improvements that relates with the need for automation

KEYWORDS QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT (0-5).

Adequacy of testing activity undertaken so far	1	2	3	4	5
Adequacy and availability of technical resources of the development team	1	2	3	4	5
Current development stage	1	2	3	4	5
Overall technical feasibility	1	2	3	4	5

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