Food sector companies in Denmark’s capital region are finding new ways to innovate through a project backed by the European Regional Development Fund. In CPH-FOOD2, companies work with researchers from two universities to create new products and processes. Support provided through the project aims to help business managers tackle a range of challenges – from developing new packaging or recipes to expanding production or adopting cutting-edge technologies.
Boosting food sector innovation in Denmark’s capital region
- 18 September 2020
The vast majority of our participants are small and medium-sized enterprises. They do not necessarily have the resources or knowledge to develop all ideas themselves, but they are quick to restructure their production and integrate the new possibilities. We have given them unique opportunities to get research capacity, and many have reached new heights with, for example, product development.
This project builds on the CPH-FOOD project, which was successfully rolled out in the Zealand region in 2016. Sixteen companies are participating in CPH-FOOD 2, which aims to create 13 new innovations and at least five new jobs in the local food cluster.
Providing expert support
The project examines a company’s needs while assessing marketplace or technological challenges. Key to the process is matching the company to the right kind of help. This can come from a project team that includes the Technical University of Denmark and the University of Copenhagen, as well as Food and Bio Cluster Denmark and Danish investment and development company Spring Nordic.
Collaboration with the university researchers is something that managers have highlighted as one of the project’s strengths. The collaborative process often leads companies to new ideas and pathways to innovation that they had not previously thought about. As well as tailored support for individual businesses, the project offers help to partnerships in the local food cluster to address common issues.
New health products
With help from the project, a Copenhagen-based company has developed plant-based health-enhancing products that can modulate gut microflora. Metaceutic’s innovative prebiotic products aim at enhancing people’s cognitive and physical health.
In summer of 2020, the company began launching new product series on the market, which will be followed up with personalised products which can be tailored to a customer’s specific needs through profiling of their gut flora. CPH-FOOD2 researchers helped to screen and test the natural ingredients used in the company’s formulations.
CPH-FOOD2 also creates networks between the companies and their partners, both inside and outside the region. Additionally, the project generates visibility for the Zealand cluster by building on the CPH-FOOD brand.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “CPH-FOOD2” is EUR 1 006 711, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 503 356 through the “Innovation and Sustainable Growth in Businesses” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Research and innovation”.