NICHE - Building Innovative Food Value Chains in Regions

NICHE - Building Innovative Food Value Chains in Regions is a project funded within Interreg Europe Programme, with a budget of 1.3 M EUR and a 4 years duration.

The partners involved in the project are: the Regional Development Agency of West Region Romania (RO) - as overall project coordinator, Donegal County Council (IE), Derry and Strabane District Council (UK), Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia (FI), Tartu Science Park (EE), Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship (PL), Region of Crete (GR).

NICHE project is being built around the commonalities and existing innovation potential of the participant regions.

The main drivers that have brought the partners to work together are:

• the importance of the food sector within their regional socioeconomic development;
• a determination of increasing the current level of research and innovation in the food sector as a way to give response to the current demand and due to its smart growth potential already identified and reflected in their Regional Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3);
• a will in learning and sharing experiences with other European regions facing similar challenges and opportunities;
• a need of putting in place the correct instruments that will help the development of the food sector based on strengthening the existing research and innovation capacity in these regions.

The project pursues to increase the current level of adoption by food sector companies of the existing research and innovation capacities as a way to give response to the existing demand in the participating regions.

Each project partner will come with their own expertise and experience as subsequently to be able to  improve the food sector in each participating region so that it becomes a competitive European and global market and grow through innovation - to ensure sustainable development.

The project will be implemented with the support of the agro-food market (private or state companies, local and regional public authorities, universities, research centers, NGOs) in the seven partner regions. These actors will be able, being involved in the project and participating in internships, to develop their skills, to implement more efficient production models, to improve their marketing and distribution strategies  or even to develop new services or business models.

"NICHE - Developing innovative value chains in the food sector" project was conceived as a response to the need of the West Region to develop the food sector, need coming as a result of West Region's Smart Specialization Strategy.

Website: http://www.interregeurope.eu/niche/