Project description
Pioneering computational food science and digital transformation
The EU-funded foodigIT project is modernising food research at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) by establishing the innovative foodigIT Computational Food Science Centre. This initiative leverages data science, advanced digital tools, AI and IT solutions to address challenges in food safety, quality and sustainability. By integrating fragmented research across AUTh departments, foodigIT fosters interdisciplinary excellence and aims to attract top-tier talent and contribute to the digital transformation of the food industry. At the project's core is foodigITeco, a dynamic knowledge-transfer ecosystem connecting academia, industry, regulators and consumers. This centre will not only enhance AUTh’s research capabilities but also serve as a model for the exploitation of food science data, positioning the EU food sector for greater competitiveness and sustainability.
Objective
The EU agri-food industry is facing major challenges related to Food Security, Safety and Sustainability. European R&I actors can significantly contribute to addressing these challenges and support competiveness of EU food sector. The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), the largest university in Greece is widely recognised as an excellent food science R&I centre. A SWOT analysis reveals that due to the fragmentation of food research across different schools, the huge R&I potential of AUTh is not yet fully exploited, hampering progress in research excellence and talent attractiveness. In line with the new ERA for Research and Innovation, the European Green Deal and the EU4Digital strategy, at the heart of this proposal is the ambitious vision to establish the computational food science and digital transformation (foodigIT) Centre at AUTh. Under the guidance of a distinguished ERA Chair foodigIT aims to bridge food science across AUTh and R&I excellence by integrating current food research with data science cutting-edge digital tools and Information Technology (IT) solutions. This integration will attract top-tier talents and act as a transformative force boosting research and infrastructure synergy across AUTh. The foodigIT Centre is also poised to be a cornerstone for reshaping the relationship between academia and society through the creation of foodigITeco, a new Innovation and Knowledge Transfer ecosystem based on an extensive partnership network with R&I organisations, food industry federations, regulators/competent authorities and consumer associations. foodigITeco will transfer cutting-edge research results and knowledge from academia to the food industry, but also act as a conduit for industry needs, identifying challenges and requirements directly from the food sector and integrating them into AUTh's education programme. Overall, foodigIT will enhance AUThs visibility and competitiveness in the European Research Area.
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support ActionsCoordinator
546 36 THESSALONIKI
Greece