Food-producing SMEs in Denmark’s Central Jutland region have been given support to innovate through a project that linked them to expertise in local research institutions. The Future Food Innovation (FFI POP) project helped participating companies grow through the development of new products, services and processes. In the long term, the initiative ensures that the local food cluster can become more internationally competitive and generate more jobs and exports.
Denmark boosts the innovative capacity of its food sector SMEs
- 27 November 2020
In the FFI POP project, we have given companies the courage to follow their ideas and helped them to create new innovative products, services and processes in the food industry.
Through FFI POP, SMEs had their innovative business ideas rigorously assessed and analysed, taking account of their commercial potential. Potential new products, ingredients and solutions could be tested and prototypes made – helping business owners address practical barriers to innovation.
Developing new products
The project delivered 16 innovative collaborations between companies and research teams from local universities and research institutes. This cooperation helped 13 SMEs develop new products. In addition, 15 companies introduced new products or systems for their own use. Seven start-ups were launched.
FFI POP helped a start-up company called Fruit-Up to assess the use of the fruit from the cashew nut apple in food production. Usually only the nut is harvested and the outer apple is discarded. Fruit-Up had the idea of using the unwanted product for the sustainable production for pectin, which is used as a thickening agent in jams and preserves.
The project helped the company analyse the market for sustainable pectin. Researchers at the Danish Technological Institute showed that it is possible to extract natural pectin from the cashew apple. Using these findings, the company is now looking to develop a prototype of a new product.
In another collaboration, the project helped an entrepreneur develop a range of vegetable juices and smoothies aimed at helping hospital patients recover. Prototypes of sample drinks were developed and their nutritional values assessed with the support of chronically ill patients receiving treatment at Aarhus University Hospital’s gastro department.
Building partnerships
The project was coordinated by Agro Business Park A/S in a partnership with the Department of Food and the MAPP Centre at Aarhus University, Knowledge Centre for Food Development (VIFU), the Danish Technological Institute, Danish Food Cluster and Erhvervshus Midtjylland, a business support organisation.
Agro Business Park A/S, VIFU, the Danish Food Cluster and Nordjysk Fødevareerhverv were consolidated in May 2020 to form the Food and Bio Cluster Denmark.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Future Food Innovation (FFI POP)” is EUR 2 287 031, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 730 764 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”.