FINE - Food Innovation Network Europe
Øresund Food has together with 7 other strong and complementary European regions established the network FINE (Food Innovation Network Europe) with the objective to develop strategies, an action programme and tools to increase regional investment in food related R&D and innovation.
EU funding has been approved and a kick-off took meeting place in february. The project does engage universities, agro-food companies, policy makers, governmental organisations and research organisations at both sides of Öresund.
European regions involved besides Öresund are East netherlands, Flanders Belgium, Rogaland Norway, Castilla Y Leon Spain, Scottish enterprise, Emilia Romagna/Parma italy and Poznan Poland.
Although international competition is becoming more and more severe and capricious consumers demand innovative products, RTD investments in the food sector have remained relatively low over the last decade.
This project aims to increase the volume and effectiveness of these investments by regional policies.The European Food and Drink industry represents one of the largest manufacturing sectors in Europe.
FINE starts spring 2006 by comparing the profiles of the participating regions by regional SWOT-analysis, based on quantitative data on the region and qualitative data from stake holder interviews. The results from each region will be presented at at meeting in Örestad June 12-13.
A strategic Orientation round (SOR) will then follow in september with the stake holders. SOR is used to make the step from analysis to strategy. As such, it is of particular interest for the FINE project to translate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats into a number of strategies & subsequent action programme with 10 specific projects in 2007.
Øresund Food is a Danish-Swedish food network for anyone interested in food related issues in the whole food value-chain. It is the place where you can meet new people within food and get contacts to industry, universities or authorities.
Owners
Øresund Food has since 2005 been a organisation based on members coming from industry, universities, research institutes and authorities. The members include small and large, old and new companies and organisations. See details
Vision
The vision of the Øresund Food is to make The Øresund Region visible within food related issues as the most dynamic, advanced, knowledgeable and technologically region within agriculture, food production, food processing, distribution and food consumption.
Achievements
Increased research collaboration within food related issues between the two countries is achieved by Øresund Food by competence mapping, analyses, lobbying and by organizing informal meetings, seminars, workshops and conferences.
Øresund Food coordinate and participate in several multidisciplinary research projects (including EU funded projets) within food related issues. Øresund Food initiates active networking and the region and its members are marketed internationally. All this generates new food research- and business opportunities.
Increased competitiveness is obtained through integrated activities with other clusters such as Medicon Valley Academy in biotechnology and medicine and with Öresund IT Academy in processing and technology.
Visit the homepage of the FINE project.
