Quakenbrueck (DIL). On May 01, 2009, the European Network of Excellence ‘HighTech Europe’ took up work. This initiative, currently comprising 22 European research organizations, industrial federations and enterprises, is coordinated by the German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL) located in Quakenbrueck, Germany. The network is part of the 7th Framework Programme of the EU.

The aim of this cooperation is to make innovative knowledge – in particular latest findings from biotechnology, nanotechnology as well as information and communication technology – available for small and medium-sized enterprises in the food production industry to strengthen them for global competition.

The innovation process in European food industries will be accelerated by pooling a critical mass of competence and skills all along the knowledge transfer chains (from knowledge creation over sharing to utilization). Intensive communication and co-operation improve the transfer of innovation and knowledge. The joint activities of the partners will be focused towards creation of best cases with a high impact on improving food quality, food safety and processing efficiency.

HighTech Europe facilitates the implementation of high-tech processing in the food industry by identifying, developing and demonstrating potential and cost-efficient innovations. This will be accomplished by a multitude of measures like an elaborated evaluation process, the availability of high-tech pilot facilities as well as connecting the regional knowledge transfer chains.

The final goal is to set up an European Institute of Food Processing. It will coordinate specific research, development and dissemination tasks. Furthermore it will serve as a consulting and training platform for technological implementation and legal compliance. In this way, the innovation rate and competitiveness of the European Agro-Food sector should be increased.