Aarhus University Seal

Aarhus University works towards the formation of a European food alliance

Aarhus University is part of the consortium FoodNexus, which is currently developing an application for the status of a European innovation alliance – a so-called food-KIC. The alliance will connect the private and public sectors within the food industry in Europe, creating more innovation, jobs and better education.

[Translate to English:] Foto: Colourbox

Collaboration across borders is key to combating the global challenges facing the world as we know it. That is the reason why Aarhus University together with a number of the leading food companies and educational organizations have joined forces in the European consortium FoodNexus.

The consortium is currently developing an application for the status of a European innovation alliance – a so-called food-KIC (Knowledge and Information Community). The partners will be applying for more than €100 million from the EU organization EIT, and the FoodNexus secretariat is therefore fully engaged in providing answers on how the KIC is to be formally designed and how it will meet the EIT's delivery requirements.

An area of significant importance to our society and welfare

FoodNexus is divided into five co-location centres in Europe as well as a head office. The decision on where to locate the head office has yet to be finalized.

The Nordic branch of FoodNexus is currently building a co-location centre, which includes a number of partners in Denmark and Sweden. From Aarhus University, Niels Halberg has been appointed by the Dean of Science and Technology, Aarhus University, Niels Chr. Nielsen to take part in the application process, securing Danish influence in the consortium.

- Science and Technology wants to use the Faculty's strengths within food research and primary production to enter into a strong partnership with Danish and international industrial companies and universities, focusing on research, education, innovation and entrepreneurship," says Dean Niels C. Nielsen from the Faculty of Science and Technology at Aarhus University.

- Thereby we can contribute significantly to putting regional and local companies on the map and help secure an active knowledge exchange and industrial development within an area of significant importance to our society and welfare.

The application must be submitted to the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) on 14 July, 2016. 


Further information

Background of FoodNexus

The European Commission established the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) to increase entrepreneurship and innovation in Europe. EIT operates through "Knowledge and Innovation Communities" (KICs) which operate in various areas, and there are already more active KICs, including one related to climate (climate-KIC) and one in the digital area (EIT Digital). A KIC creates business, innovation and education based on research by involving excellent partners who set up a common business plan. The success of the KICs is measured by specific factors such as the number of new businesses and new business areas, the number of EIT students, patents, etc. The FoodNexus consortium is applying for the European food-KIC, with its deadline in July 2016. The consortium is competing with at least one other consortium.

About FoodNexus

FoodNexus (formerly Foodbest) is a consortium of companies and educational & research institutions in Europe, which together are applying for EU funds to create a pan-European innovation alliance (a food-KIC) with partners from excellent public and private players in the European food system. This will ensure that the players are strongly connected and can lift the European food industry and education system in order to boost the competitiveness of Europe.

FoodNexus is divided into five co-location centres in Europe as well as a head office. The Nordic branch of FoodNexus is currently building a co-location centre, which includes a number of partners in Denmark and Sweden. The Nordic branch’s secretariat is currently anchored at the Copenhagen and Lund universities, and is also serving as the main secretariat for preparing the application. The other branches are located in France, Spain, Italy and the Benelux countries.

Rob Hamer is the president of the entire FoodNexus organization and was appointed by the core partner aspirants. He is director of Unilever R&D and is also associated with Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

Contact

Niels Halberg
Director, DCA
Aarhus University
Email:Niels.Halberg@icrofs.org
Phone: 29630093