October 2025

SMART FOOD FACTORY: Enhancing digital and green growth in food industry - Collaborating for a sustainable food system

Join us on 1 October 2025 at Thon Hotel, Brussel city centre, for an inspiring event hosted by the European HIGHFIVE project. Connect, collaborate and shape the future of a digital and green food industry. Gain valuable insights from technology providers, food industry, clusters and policymakers.

Practical information

When

01 October 2025 from 09:00 to 18:00

Where

Avenue du Boulevard / Bolwerklaan 17

1210 Brussels, Belgium

Budget

Free event, registration is mandatory

Organizer

HIGHFIVE

I register!

Program

09:00

Welcome reception & registration

09:30

Welcome

09:45

Keynote: digitally driven, globally connected: transforming food processing for a sustainable future

10:15

Smart Solutions 4 Agri-food

Simon Maas, Program Manager Industry and (Inter)national Relations, AgriFood Capital

Discover how smart solutions and digital innovation are transforming the agrifood sector. Simon Maas shares insights from leading European collaborations, showcasing new pathways to greater sustainability and resilience in food production.

10:30

HIGHFIVE project introduction

Veerle De Graef, Internationalisation Manager, Flanders’ FOOD

Get an inside look at the HIGHFIVE project with Veerle De Graef. Discover how this collaborative initiative is accelerating digital and green innovation across Europe’s food sector.

10:50

Coffee break

11:10

SME and Cluster testimonials

HIGHFIVE in Action: From Open Call to Meaningful Results (by CTRIA)

Supporting Regional Innovation: Lessons from the HighFive Frontline (by Clusaga)

SME testimonial: Bakkerij Mariën

SME testimonial: Yazzoom

11:40

Panel discussion

Panelists: Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė (CEO, AgriFood Lithuania DIH; Vice-President, European Clusters Alliance; Lithuanian Cluster Network), Inge Arents (Managing Director, Flanders’ FOOD), Tim Van Meer (Technical Director, Pomuni), Birstono Mineral Waters (speaker TBA)

Join leading experts from across Europe as they discuss how collaborative projects and regional clusters are powering the digital and green transition in the food sector. Hear practical insights and inspiring examples from innovation leaders committed to building more resilient and sustainable food systems.