• Overview
• Data and Facts
• Sectors
• Services
• Location
• Technology transfer
• Research and Development
• Incubator and Incentives

Adress

Z.I. Brancaccio Via Filippo Pecoraino
90124 Palermo
(Sicily)

Telephone

+39 091 6215653

Fax

+39 091 6214343

World Wide Web

www.pstsicilia.org

Technology transfer

Inclusion in EU project

PON Ricerca 2000-2006

Agricultural / food, Enviroment and Materials.

• Various activities as part of the VI. Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development of the EU

MED Programme

National and European Network

Interreg III A Italy-MaltaIII B Medocc

National and European Network

• Integrated administration of natural materials
• Coastal protection and technologies in the agricultural food sector

Interreg III B Archimed

National and European Network

• Human resources and development planning

Interreg IV C

National and European Network

Activities

BIOLOGICALLY DEGRADABLE TEXTILE CANVASES MADE FROM POLYMERS OF MICROBIAL ORIGIN

In the laboratories of the Science and Technology Park (PST) intensive work has been carried out on the manufacturing process of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). This only recently patented procedure obtains the PHA by the microbial fermentation from used food oils. PHA are intracellular biologically degradable polymers, which are produced by pneudomonas bacteria, and are capable of using pure carbon both from diverse sources, such as glucose and fatty acids and also from old material. The mixtures on PHA-basis and/or biomass and other biologically degradable polymers were applied by spraying or in the calender process onto recycling paper or fabric made from Chinese plant fibres (TNT) to produce mulch plates for agriculture, which enable cultures to be produced which do not differ from commercial foils.
A cooperative agreement was concluded up to 20101 with a Chinese research institute, which envisages the delivery of PHA polymers and the necessary technical support for the development of highly innovative products from plant fibres and PHA.

Selected microbes as start help (biostarter) on a yeast basis Saccharomyces cerevisiae for production improvement of bakery goods

A microbial starter on the basis of selected yeasts (sccharomyces cerevisiae) for the production of bakery goods, in particular bread, has been patented. By means of the use of specially selected yeasts both the leavening effect of the yeast and also of the shelf life of the end product are enhanced. Extremely satisfactory results were achieved by companies located in the provinces Messina and Catania.

Yeasts for production of sparkling wine and other fermented drinks

PSTSicilia has about 1 000 yeast strains in store in the company's own microorganism bank, of which two strains (saccharomyces cerevisiae and debaryomyces hansenii) were selected for the process. The tests conducted from 2003 in cooperation with a wine producer in the Province Catania resulted in the indigenous spectrum of selected yeasts giving the product a typical characteristic and an aroma, which is clearly above the commercially dry yeast. The yeasts deposited in the German Bank for International Microorganisms (OSMZ) were patented.
Currently a scientific and commercial cooperation agreement with an international company is being negotiated, which is leading in the sphere of production and marketing of oenology products.

Contacts to Germany already exist:

• Steinbeis Foundation, Stuttgart
• DSMZ (german gene bank)
• Animox Gmbxh (Dr Axel Hohling)
• Bioworld (Mr. Walf Krone)

Contacts to foreign companies are welcomed in the following areas:

We are interested in:

• The agrar industry (applied biotechnologies
• ICT
• The Environment (agrar-energy: biomass, biodiesel, and bio-ethanol)
• Cultural treasures (stones and earth, mortar and plastering)
• Innovative materials (biologically degradable foils)