VIDA – 3.3 Million Euros for SME innovation support

Climate change and the growth of the global population are both having a massive impact on food, fresh water and energy resources. Food production and processing use large amounts of water and energy and thus face many challenges regarding consumption, measurement, management, quality control and treatment within the different process steps.

Consequently, resource efficiency, i.e. the efficient use of raw materials, water and energy are part of the sustainability strategies of all companies in the agrifood value chains. Key enabling technologies (KET, i.e. microtechnology, nanotechnology, industrial biotechnology, advanced materials, photonics, and advanced manufacturing technologies) provide diverse potentials to tackle the challenges of minimizing resource consumption.

VIDA – Value added Innovation in fooD chAins aims to accelerate the implementation of new solutions in the food sector which improve the usage of water and energy with the ambition to reduce losses and consumption. VIDA has three different funding schemes to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) seeking new resource efficient solutions.

INDUCE and VIDA focus on increasing resource and energy efficiency. Using project synergies provides companies the best support to increase their efficiency and thus reduces their susceptibility to future resource scarcity.

VIDA Project

VIDA is a 36 months European project (2018-2021) to support the innovation potential of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working across European food chains interested in improving the use and efficiency of water, food, energy and key enabling technologies (KET).

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement nº 777795 This document reflects only the author’s view and the Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.

Author: Sabine Höfel (FPI)