About Excel4Pro
Excel4Pro is an EU-funded project with a four-year duration that started on January 2025 and aims to transform the agri-food sector through cross-border collaboration and scientific excellence across Türkiye, Greece and Ukraine. By strategically leveraging the region’s scale and geographic advantage in protein-rich crop production and processing, Excel4Pro will create a single, interconnected Excellence Hub. This cross-border ecosystem fosters innovation, strengthens the plant-based protein value chain and delivers sustainable food solutions. Additionally, Excel4Pro enhances research, knowledge exchange and innovative R&I strategies, aiming to bridge knowledge gaps, attract investments, and upskill researchers and entrepreneurs.
Why Plant Proteins Matter
Three key global drivers underpin the increased interest in plant protein-based diets: population-growth, the important role of proteins in a healthy diet and the environmental impact of animal-based food chains. While an increasing trend in proportion of plant sources included in diet is obvious, the current generation of commercial plant-based alternatives is suboptimal. Therefore, more research is needed to develop mild processing techniques for plant proteins and to obtain a comprehensive understanding on the impact of plant proteins on technological and nutritional functionality.
Objectives and Vision
Excel4Pro is committed to driving the transition toward sustainable food systems by addressing the rising global demand for protein, the challenges of malnutrition and overconsumption and the need to reduce the environmental footprint of animal-based proteins. By enhancing the nutritional value of plant-based alternatives and optimising processing techniques, the project will overcome barriers such as limited dissemination of innovations and uneven investment in plant protein research. Its vision is to establish a cross-border Excellence Hub that positions plant-based proteins at the centre of healthier diets and reduced environmental impacts towards a more resilient and sustainable agri-food sector.
How will Excel4Pro achieve that
Excel4Pro distinguishes itself through a cross-border approach that brings together academia, industry, public authorities and civil society to advance the plant-based protein sector. Its core strength lies in promoting collaboration across Türkiye, Greece and Ukraine, adopting an approach that ensures plant protein solutions are not only research-driven but also commercially scalable and broadly embraced.
To turn its vision into action, Excel4Pro will:
- Develop joint strategies at both the Hub and national levels to guide long-term collaboration.
- Co-create policies and investment plans that support plant protein initiatives tailored to regional needs.
- Offer mentoring and funding programmes (Excel4Pro’s Open Call) to empower researchers, entrepreneurs and start-ups.
- Provide business support for demonstrators to accelerate market readiness.
- Identify suitable crops and conduct pilot studies for scalable production models.
- Develop plant protein-based ingredients and products based on scientific and market insights.
- Conduct life-cycle assessments (LCAs) to evaluate environmental performance and sustainability.
- Communicate results openly and share data through open science platforms.
- Promote continuous impact assessment to ensure relevance, transparency, and adaptability.
“We see Excel4Pro as a starting point for long-term change. Beyond developing new food prototypes or publishing scientific findings, our goal is to empower people across the agri-food chain, from scientists to small business owners.”
Consortium
Excel4Pro is driven by a well-balanced, multidisciplinary consortium of 17 partners from four countries (Türkiye, Greece, Ukraine and Belgium). This high-quality group brings together diverse expertise, knowledge and networks, ensuring full capacity to achieve the project’s objectives. Built on the quadruple helix model (linking academia, the public sector, business, NGOs and SMEs) the consortium combines all the skills and resources needed for successful implementation. TUBITAK’s Marmara Research Center is coordinating the project, collaborating with National Technical University of Athens, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Gebze Technical University, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye, Region of Peloponnese, Besler, The Goof Wild, YTU Yıldız Technopark, Jotis, Prinsus, White Research, Fruktona, Prana Organic LLC, Impact Hub Istanbul, Reframe Food and NGO Tech Start-up School.
PRESS CONTACT AND SOCIAL MEDIA
White Research | Dissemination Managers
Anastasios Galatsopoulos: agalatsopoulos@white-research.eu
Artemis Grigoriadou: agrigoriadou@white-research.eu
