DIP4Agri is the name of the new project of the Faculty of Biotechnology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) which aims to accelerate training in innovation and entrepreneurship of higher education institutions, in the fields of deep tech in the valorization of agro-food by-products.
The project will integrate knowledge in deep tech fields (biotechnology, clean technologies, robotics, and AI and machine learning) and innovation and entrepreneurial capabilities to convert the problem of agri-food waste into business opportunities. In addition, a systematic transformation will be built for effective and long-lasting change, leveraging on existing structures and procedures to achieve impactful improvements in the regional innovation ecosystem. According to Manuela Pintado (UCP), researcher at the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry and project coordinator, “DIP4Agri will allow accelerating the creation of value at the university by promoting a culture of entrepreneurship and technological innovation in solutions that boost the circularity of agri-food systems”.
DIP4Agri integrates an education programme with a deep tech basis and customised contents and will provide mentoring for the development of solutions by problem owners (industry, NGOs, municipalities, investors), aiming to address challenges in agri-food by-products and wastes, exploit knowledge transfer and foster networking. It is intended to scale the programme to become a European reference to support science-based (tech based) startups.
Looking ahead to its vision for 2030, DIP4Agri endeavours to empower student and staff entrepreneurs within HEIs, enabling them to generate breakthrough innovations that will benefit the regional socio-economic ecosystem and have the potential to create a significant impact on a broader European scale.
The project will receive funding from the EIT’s HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education. This initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) aims to boost the entrepreneurial and innovation capacity of higher education institutions (HEI) across Europe through the integration of deep tech activities. The project will receive funding of €350.000, and it will run until December 2023, with the possibility of an extension for 6 more months and additional €400.000.
As part of this project, the team of the Faculty of Biotechnology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa will be working together with: Aahrus University (DK); Wageningen University & Research (NL); Food4Sustainability (PT); BGI - Building Global Innovators (PT); Cortijo Guadiana SL (SP); Planicie Verde Sociedade Agricola Lda (PT); Vereniging FME (NL); Food & Bio Cluster Denmark (DK).
A consortium meeting was already held on the 11th july 2023 to work on the core programme that will be promoted by the DIP4Agri project. This meeting has occurred at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in Porto.
Stay tuned for more information about DIP4Agri in the coming months! https://dip4agri.eu
A 60-hour online course on Deep Techs for Innovators will be launched already in September!
About the EIT´s HEI Initiative
The EIT’s HEI Initiative is a key objective for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology as part of its new strategy. The initiative aims to support HEIs with expertise and coaching, access to the EIT innovation ecosystem, the largest in Europe, and funding, enabling them to develop innovation action plans complementing the needs of individual HEIs. This is the EIT HEI Initiative’s third call for proposals and its first call with a special focus on deep tech. So far, the initiative has provided funding to over 60 projects. The next call for proposals is expected towards the end of 2023.
About the EIT
The EIT strengthens Europe’s ability to innovate by powering solutions to pressing global challenges and by nurturing entrepreneurial talent to create sustainable growth and skilled jobs in Europe. The EIT is an EU body and an integral part of Horizon Europe, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The Institute supports dynamic pan-European partnerships, EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities, among leading companies, research labs and universities.
