Practice Abstract - Research and innovation

Foodovation

Foodovation is Northern Ireland’s most exciting business centre of excellence for food development and technology, and is located in North West Regional College’s Northland Building, Strand Road Campus, Derry-Londonderry.

Aimed at providing a one-stop-shop for current and aspiring industry producers across the region, Foodovation is a new state of the art research and development which offers a sanctuary to develop excellence in food Innovation, science and technology. As well as encouraging and nurturing small to medium sized food businesses, Foodovation will provide industry specialists with the technical advice to ensure their route to market is successful and sustainable.

Foodovation will also to help support the economic growth of the entire region. With the right expertise, food and drink manufacturers can find new markets, develop new product ideas and generate employment opportunities within the sector. Currently there is no single venue in the North West that offers a complete end-to-end new product development model for food producers in the region.

Foodovation has already celebrated success in the form of stock maker Carol Banahan who has made the centre her new workplace, and Limavady pig farmer Alastair Crown from Corndale farm. The NWRC and Foodovation Centre is aimed at supporting entrepreneurs, artisan food producers and small and medium enterprises to develop new food and drink products for the market. It has supported more than 140 businesses over 6 years with technical know-how and 1:1 support diversify their menus, raise awareness of nutrition and allergens, develop new products with export potential. In the past year the Foodovation Centre has assisted 15 small businesses to attain Invest NI Innovation Vouchers to develop new products. It has supported 36 businesses with skills via the Dept. of the Economy InnovateUs and Skills Focus programmes and has established itself as the go to centre for small business support within the food and drink sectors. The centre will be a great asset to the college and will be very important for food producers locally. Foodovation is great centre for students to see and will be so educational. http://foodovation.wpengine.com/

Source Project
SKIN - Short supply chains Knowledge & Innovation Network
Ongoing | 2016-2019
Main funding source
Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
Geographical location
Italy
Project details

Project Keywords