The Laboratory of Process Analysis and Design (LPAD) at the School of Chemical Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) is one of the oldest laboratories of the School, with a continuous contribution to education and research since its foundation in 1908. With more than two decades of expertise in product development and process integration, LPAD has evolved into a leading research unit equipped to simulate and integrate a wide range of state-of-the-art industrial processes. The laboratory has actively participated in more than 400 national and international research and educational projects, consistently delivering innovative solutions and high-impact results in chemical engineering. LPAD focuses on developing novel functional food products, including their design, quality, sensory evaluation, and shelf-life assessment. It also creates toolboxes and user-friendly databases for food properties and processing, data analysis, and mathematical modeling of physical and thermophysical processes. The laboratory conducts experimental studies on industrial operations such as drying, extraction, and encapsulation, supports process scale-up, and promotes the valorization of food waste and by-products. Additional activities include recovering functional compounds from natural sources like plants and algae, in vitro digestion studies, and life cycle assessment to evaluate processes and products’ economic and environmental impacts. The laboratory hosts a multidisciplinary team of two professors, three administrative staff members, ten postdoctoral researchers, twenty PhD students, and ten external collaborators. With more than 200 publications in peer-reviewed journals, over 7,200 citations, and an H-index of 48, LPAD has established a strong presence in the international scientific community.

About the partnership

The Laboratory of Process Analysis and Design (NTUA) is proud to participate in the THESEUS project, contributing cutting-edge expertise in polymer processing, encapsulation technologies, and sustainable materials development. As a key partner, NTUA leads the development of functional polymeric films and coatings from recycled materials, incorporating natural bioactive compounds through electrospinning and co-extrusion techniques. The lab works closely with industrial and academic partners to design food-grade solutions with enhanced antimicrobial and barrier properties, targeting applications in food packaging and agriculture. Through THESEUS, NTUA supports the transition to circular and climate-resilient packaging systems, aligning research with real-world innovation for a sustainable future.

Meet the Team

Funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Innovation Actions programme (Grant Agreement No. 101178059), within the topic HORIZON-CL4-2024-TWIN-TRANSITION-01-38: Hubs for Circularity for Industrialised Urban Peripheral Areas (Processes4Planet Partnership)Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HADEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.