EUREKA NEWS
Research and Innovation Collaboration in the Food Industry Sector
date of publication > 23-January-2012Discussing research priorities, interests and challenges on a cross-cutting approach together with ETPs from the Food Industry, the Manufacturing and the IT sector were presented and discussed during the two EUREKA Academy events which took place at the EUREKA Secretariat on the 24th November 2011 and 19 January 2012. More than 85 people (food experts, Clusters, ETPs, Network members and other stakeholders) participated to both events.
These events were a combination of presentations, plenary discussions and group discussions. Introductory presentation were made on the actual part of the methodology and the proposals from the different sides, followed by a plenary discussion, where participants proposed further subjects and then followed by further discussions in smaller groups on the same subjects – selection of the topics for the national workshops and feedback from the 3 discussion groups. The events concluded with the outcomes and agreement on the next tasks and responsibilities.
On 24th November main areas for potential collaboration were identified. In January, more attention was paid to the details and the outcomes and the subjects of interest were identified, around which presentation materials should be prepared for the national workshops, which will be carried out in February-March 2012 to generate project ideas (final dates to be announced by the HU Chair).
These areas of interest of the first Academy event included among others (the power point presentations with the results of each working group are also available):
- Efficient production systems and factory design - virtual / digital modelling
- Precision farming
- Life cycle assessment
- ICT and manufacturing-based technology solutions to improve food product features
- Small-scale effective manufacturing
The role of EUREKA network and its contribution to the generation and successful implementation of the projects was also one of the questions put forward for discussion to the working groups. The answers were various, among others worth mentioning are:
- Provide methodology for better understanding between sectors
- Mapping food chain & identifying needs, problems and expectations of food chain members related to different stages
- Identifying ICT / manufacturing technical features that are or could be available in the short/medium term and which have not been applied yet.
- Identify opportunities, explore mutual business opportunities and provide methodology for better understanding and cooperation between sectors.
- Provide workshops involving different sectors and enhancing partner search.
- Provide funding opportunities and generate longer term collaboration areas
- Design & implement a joint EUREKA campaign to increase visibility of EUREKA project benefits
The HU Chair clarified the funding situation as regards the Food technology sector based on the results of the questionnaire sent to the NPCs (and for which instruments it is available), which were also presented to the participants.
We saw on the 19th of January more interest, involvement and commitment of more EUREKA Clusters, in addition to ITEA2, in the food sector (Eurogia+, Catrene, Euripides, Acqueau and Celtic+).
Read here the full press release.