SMEs-NET

• establishing, in the 10 participant countries, as well as at European level, the foot-roots of a permanent network linking SMEs upwards with research institutions and downwards with consumers and nutritionists;
• assess and study, through a commonly developed methodology, the local industry RTD needs. Results emerged in each individual assessment will be discussed during a series of regional meetings organised in three selected locations

The Food and Drink Industry (F&DI) is the largest manufacturing sector in the EU, counting 35.000 enterprises (98% of which are SMEs), with a turnover of €650 billion, 90% of which is produced by SMEs. As SMEs play a critical role in food safety and nutritional issues, the present project intends to reach at least 20% (7.000) of the most representative of them, either for branch or for geographical area. SMEs are ideally placed to link consumers, industry and science to provide consumers with better and healthier food through a more “demand driven” scientific research on food safety innovation, nutritional value and raw materials and technology. On the other hand, the current links between the above mentioned “Food Quality & Safety Stakeholders – FQSS” are weak and only part of the research efforts ends up in consumers’ dishes. The 10 F&DI Feds of the EEIG “Spes GEIE” have assessed the need to strengthen the links between their members and the other FQSS

Results emerged in each individual assessment will be discussed during a series of regional meetings organised in three selected locations. During these meetings the most stringent topics on food safety, technology, and nutritional issues and consumers expectations will be identified