Innovations open new opportunities for the food industry

[Translate to English:] Start des EU-Projektes FOOD FUTURE am 20. September 2010 beim DIL

FOOD FUTURE? Innovation à la carte? On Monday, 20 September 2010, the international guests learned more about that subject during the introduction of this INTERREG project at the DIL. More than 80 visitors from industry, politics and science from Germany and the Netherlands gathered in Quakenbrück to hear more about the opportunities the transnational project FOOD FUTURE offers to local businesses and the region in general.
 
Dr. Volker Heinz, head of the German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL), which is a lead partner of Food Future, welcomed the Minister for Economics in Lower Saxony Jörg Bode, the Dutch Royal Commissioner of the province of Groningen Max van den Berg and many more high caliber guests. “I am pleased that so many people are interested in FOOD FUTURE right from the beginning. FOOD FUTURE shall be the starting point of a development that will make this region into an internationally acknowledged model region.”

Lower Saxony’s economics minister Jörg Bode emphasized the significance and prospects of the food industry from the Lower Saxony’s point of view: “FOOD FUTURE fits perfectly to Lower Saxony’s technology policy. Successful ideas and products can only be developed through the constant exchange between science and industry. Such innovations are indispensable if the region will ascertain its position as leading supplier of food while the food products made here shall also be of high quality and manufactured in a safe and efficient manner.”

Max van den Berg, Royal Commissioner of the province of Groningen stressed that the food industry is mainly composed of healthy SMEs that, however, are facing far reaching trends such as globalization, demographic change and changing eating habits. It is necessary to find the right answers for these challenges. “Prosperous regions are the basis of a competitive and innovative Europe. For that a cross-border cooperation is needed. FOOD FUTURE can be considered to be the kick start for a new and fruitful cooperation.”

This was confirmed by Peter Schenk, Directorate-General Regional Policy, European Commission: “The specific added value of FOOD FUTURE is based on the German-Dutch cooperation. Formerly, the search for suitable knowledge centers often ended at the border. Now, FOOD FUTURE expands the regional transfer of technologies to both sides. The aim is that businesses and research institutes located in the border region cooperate and thus contribute to more growth and competitiveness."

Project coordinator Dr. Helmut Steinkamp (DIL) explained in detail the activities scheduled for FOOD FUTURE. Contacts between the industry and application oriented research institutes shall be established, information events conducted, innovation and technology products implemented together with the industry, and vocational and advanced training encouraged. This way new technologies will also be made available to small enterprises, permanent networks will be established, the competitiveness of the domestic SMEs strengthened and a sustainable growth within the region supported.

At the end of the meeting, the “Cuisine of the Future" quickened the guests’ appetite. Various snacks were presented during a stimulating final discussion, for example snacks from the cryogenic cuisine where nitrogen is used for cooking.

This kick-off event was the official starting point of FOOD FUTURE. Starting now, companies can request detailed information about the benefits of a participation in this project. “The companies provide the ideas for innovation, everything else will be developed together - tailor-made to the company's inherent and specific requirements. This way it is easy for the companies to benefit from FOOD FUTURE”, summarizes Dr. Helmut Steinkamp (DIL).

About FOOD FUTURE

The highly competitive and dynamic food industry is constantly demanding sophisticated technologies and innovative products. New developments are of high significance for small and medium sized enterprises because this way the companies can meet the consumers’ demands even faster and manufacture their products even more efficiently.

The Majeure INTERREG Project “FOOD FUTURE - Future-oriented technologies and innovations for SMEs from the food industry” with a budget of €10.9m supports the application of new technologies and encourages the development of innovations in the companies while aiming at opening new market opportunities and establishing and safeguarding jobs. With the development of new processes, products and services, predominantly small and medium sized companies will secure their future and their sustainability.

FOOD FUTURE brings together the expert knowledge present in the German-Dutch border region and regional food companies. The food industry, including food processors and producers as well as economically oriented research institutes, plays a significant role in the region.

FOOD FUTURE will apply certain tools for the determination of the technical innovation needs in the company, carry out feasibility studies and implement projects with the goal to integrate new and efficient technologies in existing production environments. This all happens under consideration of the specific situation in the respective company.

The German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL) initiated the five year project FOOD FUTURE and also coordinates the project work. Five regional project partners are available for the food industry and in particular for SMEs; they will provide access to the benefits of FOOD FUTURE until 31 December 2014. Project partners are on the German side NieKE (Lower Saxonian competency center for the food industry) - regional initiative of the food industry and FPI – Food-Processing Initiative; as well as on the Dutch side NOM – Noordelijke Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij, Oost NV – Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Oost Nederland NV und LIOF – NV Industriebank LIOF.

The project FOOD FUTURE is co-financed within the scope of the INTERREG VI A Program “Germany - Netherlands” with funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Ministry for Economy, Employment and Transport of the Federal State of Lower Saxony, the Ministry for Economy, Business and Energy of the Federal State of North Rhine Westphalia, the Dutch Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Provinces of Groningen, Friesland, Drenthe, Overijssel, Gelderland, and Limburg. It is accompanied by the program management of the Ems Dollart Region.

Contact at DIL:

Dr. Helmut Steinkamp
Telefon: +49 (0)541.183-135
E-Mail: h.steinkamp@dil-ev.de

Vera Netz
Telefon: +49 (0)5431.183-193
E-Mail: v.netz@dil-ev.de