Interreg

The Food Industry has an important economic impact in the Dutch-German INTERREG region and is characterised by a large amount of small and medium
sized enterprises (SMEs) on both sides of the border. Especially the SMEs are challenged by the development in the global food market and by the demands of
consumer.

To improve the competitiveness of the regional food business and to make it fit for the future the project FOOD2020 has been developed in-line with the Europe 2020
Strategy on smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

In innovation projects and feasibility studies, SMEs and research institutions work together on innovative developments. Project topics include the development of biobased packaging solutions, foodstuffs based on insects or solutions for the controlled cultivation of plants in urban areas. Also, the development of an app with gamification
elements for in-house training and the organization of a German-Dutch traineeship program are the subject of FOOD2020.

The project is almost completed and has led to many new products, processes, services and solutions to existing and future challenges in the food industry. Some
results are published on the homepage www.food2020.eu.

The consortium, with the DIL as coordinator, plans to start a second phase. The aim is to support the successful ideas of the feasibility studies in the implementation and
to prepare the region for future challenges. With a budget of approximately € 4.4 million, another 19 innovation projects will be funded. Additionally, 7 thematic “think
tanks” will be established, which will deal with concrete questions about the future of nutrition from the perspective of companies over a longer period of time.

To project (external link)