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Focus on optimizing innovation support for food businesses
There is great potential to develop the food chain through increased investment in innovation and research. Sweden has excellent - even unique - conditions to become a global pioneer in the sustainable production of high-quality food. The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth has now granted a national project that aims to provide the best conditions for utilizing the potential that exists in Swedish food companies.
The aim is to create an effective innovation system with local, regional and national functions, for increased competitiveness and innovation capacity. The project will focus on the food system, but the cooperation model is also intended to be adaptable for other sectors.
- In Sweden, there are various types of expertise in business development and infrastructure such as testbeds for start-ups and SMEs, but many testify that it can be difficult to find the right one. Access to the right support also varies depending on where in the country the company is. This is not just true for food start-ups, but across all sectors and technologies. We are now testing this in the food sector to later spread the effects and lessons learned to others. In addition, we can involve SISP's member incubators and science parks in different parts of the country that already have offers in place to show that it is possible to streamline how we work together for the benefit of the companies," says Stina Lantz, CEO of Swedish Incubators & Science Parks (SISP).
"More investment in innovation is needed"
Over the course of two years, the project will develop a model that both makes the innovation system accessible and optimizes it for businesses. They should, regardless of their geographical location, be able to access the best expertise, most powerful tools and most modern production capacity that the country offers.
The project will involve all six of Sweden's incubators and science parks with food as a profile area.
- Several reports from Sweden Food Arena, OECD and evaluations of the food strategy from the Swedish Board of Agriculture indicate that increased investment in innovation and research is needed to develop and strengthen the industry. We look forward to unlocking the potential of Swedish food companies through this project," says Hannes van Lunteren, Head of Food at Krinova Incubator & Science Park.
Biorefining - partial investment in Västra Götaland
As part of the NILLA project, a regional effort is being made to increase companies' access to biorefining as a method. Biorefining can be of great importance as a way to utilize residual raw materials from the food industry and increase their value.
- This is fully in line with the regional development strategy to strengthen the power of innovation and promote a circular economy. At a time when long-term sustainability and self-sufficiency are becoming increasingly important, Västra Götaland is taking steps forward by investing in building up the possibilities for biorefining," says Anders Carlberg, regional developer for marine issues at VGR, which is one of the financiers.
By converting residual raw materials, for example from the fish processing industry, into high-value products such as oils and protein isolates, biorefining can help reduce waste and increase profitability for food companies. Therefore, Chalmers is building a test and demo facility for biorefining in Västra Götaland and where the NILLA project will play a role.
- Efforts in the project include exploring a user model for the plant and increasing companies' understanding of how to develop new products and business models based on residual raw materials in production. This can be crucial for increasing companies' competitiveness," says Emelie Hennström, project manager for the regional part of the NILLA project.
Facts about the NILLA project
The project, called NILLA (National Innovation Support System Equal and Accessible for All), will be run by the three organizations Krinova Incubator & Science Park, Innovatum Science Park and Swedish Incubator & Science Park (SISP). The first two have long experience of innovation support for food companies and the latter is the trade association for Sweden's incubators and science parks.
The project is funded by Region Västra Götaland, Region Skåne and the European Regional Development Fund.
Contact persons NILLA in Västra Götaland
Emelie Hennström
Project Manager Blue Bioeconomy
Lillemor Lindberg
Innovation Leader Blue Bioeconomy