WUR & CREATIVE INDUSTRY MATCHMAKING EVENT
Agriculture and food is a globally growing sector with large societal challenges and important economic opportunities, in which the Netherlands takes a leading position. Numerous innovations in the agrifood sector already exist to tackle these challenges, but the knowledge about and acceptance of these innovations is lagging behind expectations. With its innovation and imaginative power, the creative industry is an indispensable link in offering a meaningful interpretation to new technological possibilities that foster acceptance. By joining forces innovations will give better answers to large societal challenges and, in doing so, will contribute to wellbeing in the Netherlands.
In order to join forces and work on innovative solutions for a number of societal challenges, a stronger knowledge base is needed. In combining the expertise of the involved organizations and top sectors, the following three topics have been identified, from which we can expect collaboration to lead to interesting results:
Nutrition and healthy behavior – To encourage people to make the right/better food choices – for their specific situation (life stage, exercise patterns, etc.) – and to positively influence their health, it’s necessary to develop tools, methods and strategies which they can use to independently monitor their choice behavior and its influence on their health. Special attention inside this topic will be given to hard-to-reach demographics; demographics that aren’t naturally interested in available “healthy” alternatives. This theme is strongly connected to the NWA-gamechanger the choice competent consumer.
The green environment – This theme has the objective to improve the (living) environment in inner cities through greenery; inside and outside. In order to apply this greenery in the right way, knowledge is needed about the effects of greenery on wellbeing, health and the lifestyle of the residents, and how the it may have a positive influence on biodiversity and other green systems. This also culminates to the question of how these ecosystems can be designed in such a way that they can also be integrated in the city and other public buildings, such as hospitals, school and offices.
Circular food design and packaging – The food chain is subjected to a circular method, and along with it comes a demand for the development of circular cycles and production methods for food and packaging. This asks for new integrated concepts that are developed in collaboration with stakeholders. New knowledge is needed about fabric streams and technology, high quality nutrients, bio-based materials, but also about the application of circular principles in this market, about co-creation of circular concepts with a multitude of stakeholders, new business models and transition management.
Matchmaking Event Wageningen & Creative Industry
This year, a number of funding opportunities from the NWA, NWO and from the Top Sectors will be made available to start new projects. Anticipating these opportunities, CLICKNL and Wageningen University & Research (WUR) deem it important to start exploring possible partnerships around the three common themes right now.
That’s why the Top Sector Creative Industry (through its TKI CLICKNL) and WUR on Tuesday, 22 May, organize a matchmaking event for researchers, project leaders and entrepreneurs from the agricultural, food and creative sector. This event offers the opportunity to meet one another around these themes, present your first project ideas and, subsequently, look for possible partnerships to join forces with. Additionally, information will be provided about the various funding possibilities that have been made available for the (development of) projects.
Program & registration
The matchmaking will take place in the Wisdom and Wonder Pavilion on the campus in Wageningen. The program will be as follows:
• 12:00h – 13:00h Walk-in with lunch
• 13:00h – 17:00h Program with pitches and matchmaking in different rounds, explanation about the funding possibilities
• 17:00-18:00 Drinks
The entire program and more details will follow halfway through May and after registration. Attendance is free.
You can register for the event until 16 May through the application form. On the form you can indicate specific interests for a theme or potential first project ideas, which we will use in shaping the program. In addition, you will be introduced to possible partners based on this information.
Have a question about this event? Send an e-mail to matchmaking@clicknl.nl.