ArCovid19

 

ArCovid19

 

1. PROJECT NAME: ArCovid19

2. PROJECT ID: CENTRO-01-02B7-FEDER-070305

3. MAIN GOAL: Detection and assessment of the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in indoor air in confined spaces considered critical or high-risk

4. REGION: Center (of Portugal)

5. BENEFICIARY ENTITIES: Biocant – Associação de Transferência de Tecnologia | Biocant R&D, Lda.

6. APPROVAL DATE:  September 9,2020

7. START DATE: September 1, 2020

8. END DATE: February 28, 2021

9. TOTAL ELIGIBLE COST: 157.716,36 EUR

10. FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION (FEDER): 126.173,09 EUR

11. OBJECTIVES, ACTIVITIES, AND EXPECTED/ACHIEVED RESULTS

The primary objective of the ArCOVID19 project is to develop a methodology for detecting the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in air samples, with a view to the early detection of this pathogenic microorganism responsible for the current pandemic.

The project’s activities can be divided into two main areas:

• Definition and optimization of the testing methodology
• Conducting sampling and testing in critical environments, with a view to validating the test on indoor air samples from confined healthcare spaces considered critical or high-risk.

By the end of the project, it is expected that this test will have been developed to the pre-commercial phase.

The knowledge resulting from this project will enable the development of a new business area, as well as new markets, as it will enable, in a subsequent phase, the expansion into industry and public transportation—particularly commercial aviation, which are major vectors for virus transmission—or other locations that may prove relevant, such as shopping malls, allowing a wide range of entities to offer this new service and thereby expanding the future market.