Askfood

Alliance for Skills and Knowledge to Widen Food Sector-related Open Innovation, Optimization and Development (ASKFOOD)

The Alliance for Skills and Knowledge to Widen Food Sector-related Open Innovation, Optimization and Development, ASKFOOD in an ERASMUS+ KA project that aims to create a permanent knowledge alliance between businesses and HEIs in the food-related sectors, as well as upgrading and modernizing training and educational methodologies by leveraging innovation and entrepreneurial mindset of the future generation of HE graduates.  In particular, ASKFOOD will develop activities in order to:

• Early discovery and anticipation of trends and related emerging skills;
• Implement an interactive platform and dynamic networking for multisector knowledge sharing and co-creation;
• Unzip innovation and take off the straitjacket of consolidated training models by launching disruptive, learner-led and cross-industry training schemes in connection with other knowledge alliances and EU supported initiatives;
• Set up common tools and organizational frame that will guarantee the sustainability of the network and of the project activities in the long term.
• ASKFOOD utilizes the quintuple helix innovation model in order to improve academia-industry and stakeholders’ interplay at EU and international level.

Outputs of the project will produce a series of virtual tools, including:

• Smart Atlas, an interactive atlas containing 8 resource types (Innovation Marketplace, Start Ups, Crowdsourcing or Crowdfunding, Acceleration Programs, Research Centres, EU Project Results, Training Centres, and MOOCs);
• Forecast Aggregator which identifies 8 power-breaking forces (Technology, Economics, Market habits, Policy and regulatory framework, Environment, Science, Transformative industry, Social dynamics) that will shape the competitive scenario in the next years;
• Interactive Training Gap Identifier, a tool to assist the identification of skills gaps and training needs for current and future professions;
• Digital and Business Training Ecosystem

As for training innovative training approaches, the Reversed Incubator is set up within the ASKFOOD project framework and gives a great opportunity to explore innovation with the possibility of creating successful start-ups.

The project consortium is constituted of 6 Universities, 2 research and consulting companies, 3 food industry associations and 1 non-profit, organisation under the coordination of the University of Teramo.

Total funding: 983 623 €