Interreg

The food industry is of great economic importance in the entire German-Dutch INTERREG region and is at the same time characterised by a high proportion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on both sides of the border. Due to global economic developments and growing consumer demands, small and medium-sized enterprises in particular are facing a tough challenge today.

With the Europe 2020 strategy, the European Commission has set a clear target for developments within Europe. The FOOD2020 Phase II project aims to ensure that the guidelines and objectives of Europe 2020 are applied to the food industry in the border region, thus strengthening the innovative capacity of the food industry in the region in the long term. To support the strategic initiative AgroBusiness & Food of the INTERREG program Germany-Netherlands, the project FOOD2020 Phase II offers opportunities for product and process development. The economy and in particular the SMEs involved are supported in their innovative strength in order to secure future-oriented economic perspectives.

Thematic contributions to the strategic initiative can be dealt with by SMEs in the following thematic focuses: Sustainability, healthy food, food security, food safety and social innovation.

With a budget of 4.4 million euros, 21 innovation projects and 7 think tanks in the agricultural and food industry of the project region will be supported. The innovation projects are carried out across borders by partners in Germany and the Netherlands, whereby project costs of up to 270,000 euros are funded with a quote of 50 percent. In think tanks, scientists and experts from companies work in a series of sessions on solutions to current issues in the sector. The topics covered here include alternative protein sources, circular economy and reduction.

The companies are supported by the lead partner DIL e.V. and the German regional coordinators FPI e.V. and GIQS e.V. as well as the Dutch coordinators BOM, LIOF, NV NOM, TCNN and Oost NL.

To project (external link)