The AHFES (Healthy Food Ecosystem in the Atlantic Area) project aims to improve the competitiveness and growth of Healthy Food Value Chain SMEs by strengthening an innovation ecosystem that facilitates access to knowledge, partners and markets by aligning products and services with consumer preferences. AHFES will support the sustainable growth of the food and healthy living sector, especially of SMEs, crucial actors in the European common market.
Expected results:
- Analysis of existing initiatives, policies and mechanisms to support entrepreneurship, innovation and internationalization;
- Definition of the needs of SMEs at the technological, knowledge, administrative, etc.;
- Conducting a SWOT analysis and operational planning for SMEs;
- Creation and development of a network of cooperation between key actors in the value chain that allows matchmaking and with a view to transnational cooperation for entrepreneurship and innovation in SMEs;
- Creating a map of healthy food and infrastructure that enable healthy lifestyles that strengthen transnational cooperation between regions, help identify gaps and help mitigate risk along the value chain;
- Training of SMEs in cooperation and support for knowledge sharing, networking and adaptation to best cooperation practices that contribute to more efficient production systems and business models;
- Improve the capacity of SMEs to international markets by creating a transregional innovation ecosystem for SMEs;
- Creating a more sustainable ecosystem, based on consumer-oriented product development by creating customer relationships, increasing the transparency of industry entities and improving the credibility of consumer information, as well as channels of communication between companies and target audiences;
- Creation of a strategic cooperation network involving all actors relevant to the sector – clusters, legislators, technology and research centers, consumer organizations, and companies that can develop a service that integrates different activities, according to the objectives of the project;
- Improve and increase the effectiveness of technology and knowledge transfer between actors.
DETAILS:
PROJECT CODE
EAPA_1071/2018
CONTEST CODE
SI-53-2018-15
DESIGNATION
INTERREG ATLANTIC AREA
THEMATIC GOAL
1.1. Enhancing innovation capacity through corporation to foster competitiveness
INTERVENTION TYPOLOGY
Cluster support and business networks primarily benefiting SMEs; Advanced support services for SMEs and groups of SMEs (including management, marketing and design services).
MAIN BENEFICIARY
CLUSAGA - Asociación Clúster Alimentario de Galicia
OTHER BENEFICIARIES
InovCluster – Associação do Cluster Agro-Industrial do Centro;
Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association;
Association du Pole de Competivite VALORIAL;
EIT Food CLC South, S.L.;
National University of Ireland Galway;
Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, I.P; BIC Innovation; Llywodraeth Cymru.
START DATE
2019/03/01
COMPLETION DATE
2023/02/28
TOTAL ELIGIBLE PROJECT INVESTMENT
1.448.983,47€
TOTAL ELIGIBLE INVESTMENT INOVCLUSTER
82.033,96€
FEE / AMOUNT OF FINANCING
75% / 61.525,47€
PRIVATE COUNTERPART
20.508,49€