Platform for open innovation and networking improves competitiveness of SMEs
After 4 years of hard development work and compilation of a wide range of data, the Food Tech Innovation Portal will be launched to the public on 1 May 2013. The portal offers descriptions of food processing related technologies, including their working principle, processing parameters, and applications. Moreover, the status of the technologies, which can vary from new research results to machineries already available on the market, will be indicated. The technology descriptions are linked to a list of related open accessible infrastructure, which offers the opportunity to test new technologies without purchasing expensive equipment. Besides, as technologies and infrastructures are linked to contact data of experts working in the respective field, the right persons can be easily approached. As an additional feature, the portal offers general information and support regarding the innovation process from pre-feasibility to market launch including technical, legal, financial, marketing, and management aspects.
The Food Tech Innovation Portal intends to provide a central address with bundled information for people interested in ‘open innovation’. This way, the implementation of new technologies in the food sector shall be fostered to enhance the competitiveness especially of small and medium-sized companies without R&D departments.
The portal is created in Wikipedia style, allowing a continuous update and extension of entries. Thereby, the content quality is guaranteed by a review process organized by the portal developers. The portal is accessible free of charge. However, certain functions are available only after registration for the Associated Membership Platform (AMP) (amp@hightecheurope.eu). Associated members are able to enter their own contact data, technologies, and infrastructure to use the portal as a networking platform and to generate new business contacts. Thus, not only new technologies but also suitable partners for new developments can be found.
The Food Tech Innovation Portal has been developed within the EU-funded Network of Excellence ‘HighTech Europe‘, comprising 22 companies and institutes from across Europe and Australia (www.hightecheurope.eu ).
Visit the portal: www.foodtech-portal.eu
Contact: coordinator@hightecheurope.eu