EIT Food
Partnership website: https://www.eitfood.eu/
About the community + programmes
The EIT food wants to make our food future proof by involving more the consumers in the innovation process and consequently increasing the consumers trust in new food products. It also wants to make our food cycle more sustainable and healthy. It wants to achieve this mission by:
- Helping 533 start-ups to create new food business in 7 years
- Developing new talents and train 400 graduates through the educational Master programme
- Launching 398 healthier and more sustainable food products by 2024
- Engaging the public by reaching out to 147000 consumers to take part in an annual food trust survey
- Reducing the food related GHG emissions by 40% by 2030
Their programmes are centered in 6 categories
- Innovation schemes relating inclusive and trusted food system, healthier nutrition, connected and transparent food production system and circular bioeconomy
- Education through summer schools and a dedicated Masters or PhD course
- Entrepreneurship focusing on start-ups, scale-ups and female entrepreneurs
- Increasing public engagement
- RIS schemes for regions that are doing less well in terms of innovation
- Cross-KIC projects with other innovation communities
How to get involved?
The EIT publishes regularly calls for proposals for these different programmes. You can find out the opportunities and latest news at the webpage of the innovation community https://eit.europa.eu/our-communities/eit-food
The EIT currently has about 50 members and works through 5 regional EIT food hubs with the HQ based in Leuven. Non-members can also take part in most projects so it is not a closed community. you can contact the HQ by mail: info@eitfood.eu
You can also attend or watch InnoveEIT, the annual conference of the EIT where you can meet other members of the communities and experts of the EIT itself.
Finally you can contact the NCP for Food, Patrick.demolder@vlaio.be
What are partnerships?
Partnerships group the EC and private and/or public partners, to coordinate and streamline the research & innovation initiatives and funding in some selected key domains.
How to use partnerships?
-
orientation
Partnerships publish strategic documents, e.g. outlining the main research and innovation challenges or key focus points. -
networking
Partnerships often organise events, such as info days, brokerage events, etc. Meet potential partners and learn about the nuances that are not visible in the official documents. -
ecosystem analysis
Partnerships typically have an advisory board, and publish impact studies of previous actions. These are good sources of information to uncover the main R&D&I players in the domain. -
steering the agenda
Partnerships collaborate with the EC on outlining the strategy and the future funding opportunities in their domain, based on input from industry, academia, and other stakeholders.
Testimonial
Autoship - a new and durable way of freight transport
Autoship is, as the name suggests, an acronym for autonomous ship. Just like with self-driving cars, the possibilities of an unmanned boat seem endless. It can create more efficient freight transport, around the clock deliveries and these are just a few of the examples. The project has two societal challenges.
At first, De Vlaamse Waterweg was a bit hesitant as their experience with FP7 or Horizon 2020 projects was limited and they had not been very successful up until then. The fact that they were already doing basic research on the topic of autonomous boats, and the administrative help of NCP FLanders helped De Vlaamse waterweg to cross the line and get involved.
