Hub4Food – The Atlantic Food Innovation Hub – is a transnational initiative funded by the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme that aims to strengthen innovation capacities and ecosystem connections across the Atlantic agri-food sector. By promoting collaboration between research organisations, food enterprises (especially SMEs), clusters, and civil society, the project addresses key challenges such as limited R&D uptake, fragmented value chains, and low competitiveness. Through four interconnected work packages, Hub4Food maps regional technological capabilities, implements market-driven pilot projects, establishes a Business Innovation Facility (BIF), and designs citizen science actions to engage consumers. Special emphasis is placed on marine-based food innovations and sustainable product development, contributing to a more resilient, competitive, and inclusive food system across France, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain.
The specific objectives of the project include:
Develop a technology roadmaps and competencies database for Atlantic food business.
Implement a market-driven RDI programme of pilot projects between Atlantic food SMEs and the Hub4Food technology centres.
Set up a business innovation facility to provide services to enterprises, supporting their innovation and competitiveness.
Generate new knowledge and engage society through Citizens Science Workshops.