DIL coordinates the European project “HighTech Europe”

1.4m Euros for the North-West of Germany - Prime Minister of Lower Saxony has started the Network of Excellence.

Quakenbrück (DIL). The course for Europe was set on 15 January 2009 in Hanover, Germany. Christian Wulff, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, gave the go-ahead for a large scale international research network which will set the benchmark for Europe in the next five years. “HighTech Europe” is the official name of the Network of Excellence. The project’s objectives are the harmonization of European food research expertise and with that the strengthening of the agricultural and industrial sectors for global competition.

The project is coordinated by the German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL), located in Quakenbrück, Germany. This was the reason behind the meeting of Dr. Volker Heinz, Head of the Institute, and Dr. Reinhold Kassing, Deputy County Manager, with the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony.

In his welcome address, Christian Wulff emphasized: “The production of high quality food at competitive prices in combination with today's requirements for product and process safety has become a high-tech business."

Wulff, who characterized the DIL as a “quiet gem” on the occasion of the institute’s 20th anniversary, was pleased with the assignment of the DIL as coordinator of this important European project which is also recognition of the institute’s achievement in food research.

Dr. Volker Heinz said that the European maxim “unity through variety” can be applied to research because “research lives by exchange”.

The platform “HighTech Europe” launched on that day is an initiative of European research organizations, industrial associations and enterprises lined up within the 7. Framework Program for the promotion of EU Research activities for providing the latest findings from bio and nano technology as well as from information and communication technology for innovative product strategies in food production.

Dr. Heinz stressed that there are currently 23 partners cooperating in the network. He concluded his statement with the forecast: “In the end, there will be a European Institute of Food Technology.” 

Dr. Kassing, Vice-President on the Board of DIL, picked up on this idea. "We are positive that this European Institute will be located in the County of Osnabrück." He also pointed out that 1.4m Euros from European funds will be invested into this project in Lower Saxony. In total, the Network’s European budget is 7.0m Euros.