Context

The CATALYSE project will create a network of food safety actors with the aim to support adoption of knowledge and innovative solutions along the value chain. The network will foster collaboration and food safety knowledge sharing in a model that COLLECTS and then TRANSLATES knowledge and practices across our community through active EDUCATION and FACILITATION. The project aims to bridge the gap between end users, innovators, practitioners, trainers, and regulators by facilitating communication among these parties while matching practical needs with innovative solutions. During network activities we will set priorities for future work, provide food safety education and training, and support food business start-ups and SMEs. Data on inventions and practices related to food safety will be made available on an open access platform to support broad communication. Education and facilitation will be cornerstone activities to support innovation and change management to ensure the successful implementation of newly designed solutions and adoption by member states food safety authorities. CATALYSE will establish a community of practice to connect stakeholders from the complete value chain and promote cross-fertilization of ideas to create a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable community.

Objectives

1. To create a network of relevant stakeholders across the European Food system, from producers to regulators and consumers, and develop a sustainable business model to ensure its legacy (WP1, all WPs).
2. To engage with the food system actors to identify practical barriers to innovation and needs of end-users, to design a network that effectively translates research and innovation into practice (WP2/WP4).
3. To develop an efficient system to collect, select and make available information about innovation in food safety to all end-users in a segmented and intelligent manner (WP3). To collect and select practice-oriented knowledge and innovative solutions from existing databases, “innovator” stakeholders and educators, and disseminate them to practitioners.                                                                     
4. To implement a Europe-wide Community of practice (CoP) with thematic Chapters to promote knowledge transfer and uptake of food safety knowledge and innovation (WP4, WP5).
5. To develop and share training materials and organize educational programs for all players in the food supply chain (WP6). Develop long-lasting educational materials about critical issues in food safety management and provide them to the wider community of practitioners and students, continuously integrating new practice-oriented knowledge and emerging innovative solutions.
6. To provide support to new businesses and SMEs to facilitate food safety innovation uptake (WP7). Provide business support (with focus on start-ups and SMEs offering innovative solutions) and deliver promotional events to facilitate greater adoption by practitioners, ensuring food safety of the identified solutions.
7. To develop a digital portal for the network (WP8) and provide its users open access to the most up-to-date knowledge and innovations in food safety. It will function as a one stop portal for food safety, linking to other WPs and other initiatives and projects, maximizing end users and practitioners’ awareness.

Activities

The project aims to bridge the gap between end users, innovators, practitioners, trainers, and regulators by facilitating communication among these parties while matching practical needs with innovative solutions. During network activities we will set priorities for future work, provide food safety education and training, and support food business start-ups and SMEs. Data on inventions and practices related to food safety will be made available on an open access platform to support broad communication.

Education and facilitation will be cornerstone activities to support innovation and change management to ensure the successful implementation of newly design solutions and adoption by member states’ food safety authorities.

CATALYSE will establish a community of practice to connect stakeholders from the complete value chain and promote cross-fertilization of ideas to create a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable community. The project is structured into 8 work packages (WPs), each delivering specific elements to build a sustainable thematic network that enables food safety innovation.

WP1 oversees project coordination, ensuring compliance with Horizon Europe requirements, effective internal communication, timely deliverables, and long-term project legacy.

WP2 focuses on stakeholder engagement and co-creation, mapping their needs, barriers, and expectations regarding food safety innovations and training. An Engagement Strategy and Plan will be implemented, using best practices such as the EFSA Engagement Toolkit.

WP3 will gather and structure high-quality, up-to-date knowledge on food safety innovation from EU projects, patents, literature, and more. This knowledge will be organized into a searchable database and integrated into the CATALYSE digital platform. Proof-of-concept testing and transparency will be ensured via stakeholder feedback and peer-reviewed publications.

WP4 initiates a Community of Practice (CoP), with thematic Chapters (e.g., dairy & artisanal cheese), co-designed with stakeholders. The CoP will link research and innovation ecosystems with end users to facilitate knowledge exchange and address practical needs.

WP5 deploys the CoP across Europe via the CATALYSE digital platform, including online and in-person Chapter meetings. It will continuously expand with new themes (e.g., training, packaging, traditional food), improve tools and services, and create a plan for transferability and sustainability post-project.

WP6 curates and develops education and training materials, based on stakeholder-defined needs. A governance model will assess and adapt existing resources, while new materials (clips, webinars, tutorials) will be co-developed with academic and industry partners. A roadmap will ensure integration in formal education systems.

WP7 supports SMEs and food business operators through regional workshops and presence at major events (e.g., Food4Future, Anuga, EFFoST). It will foster uptake of innovations, support business planning, and explore exploitation routes to reach market readiness (TRL9).

WP8 implements a multi-level outreach and communication strategy tailored to various stakeholder groups. Content will be distributed via social media, events, publications, and the project website, which will host the database (WP3), CoP (WP4-5), and educational resources (WP6). Communication effectiveness will be continuously evaluated and adjusted.

Together, these activities will establish a sustainable, stakeholder-driven platform for translating food safety research and innovation into practice across Europe.