BEETHOVEN Project Kick-Off Meeting in Austria
08 September 2026
The EU-funded Horizon Europe project BEETHOVEN “Linking Brain, Environment and Ecosystems Through Holistic Omics and Validated Evidence-based Nutrition guidelines” kickstarted with a two-day meeting on 2-3 September 2026 in Krems, Austria. The consortium of 13 partners, comprising universities, research centres, a university hospital, SAFE and a company gathered at the premises of one of the partners, the University for Continuing Education Krems.
The partners came together with the shared aim of better understanding how diet affects the brain and mental health, while also considering the microbiome, lifestyle, and external factors, including socioeconomic and environmental influences. The evidence found will be translated into inclusive nutrition guidance across different stages of life.
In this project, SAFE will lead the Dissemination, Exploitation and Communication Strategy, ensuring that BEETHOVEN’s results are effectively shared with key audiences and contribute to long-term impact. SAFE will also translate the project’s research findings into evidence-based policy recommendations on nutrition guidelines for EU policymakers, to influence EU and local policies to prioritise prevention.
During the kick-off meeting, partners presented their expertise and roles, reviewed the project structure, and began planning the scientific work that will form the backbone of the project. Discussions also covered ethics and data management, stakeholder engagement, project governance, dissemination and communication, and the future development of evidence-based guidelines and recommendations.
European Commission Project Officer Serena Battaglia, the Advisory Board and the sister project NutriMind also contributed to the discussions.
The success of this project will depend on rigorous scientific evidence, close collaboration across disciplines, areas of expertise, and project activities, early stakeholder engagement, and a focus on delivering meaningful impact.
