After three years of ambitious collaboration, the HIGHFIVE project is reaching its grand finale—and doing so in practice. The Smart Food Factory demonstrations in Leuven and Brussels are not only a closing moment; they offer a concrete view of what’s next for Europe’s food industry.
This is about evidence in operation. The organisers will show that the green and digital transitions are not only possible, but already happening inside factories across Europe. HIGHFIVE has focused on turning pilots into progress. By connecting clusters, SMEs, and technology leaders across Europe, the project has accelerated the green and digital transformation of the agri-food sector. Now, the results are stepping out of the lab and onto the factory floor.
All solutions below will be presented live within a start-up-fair-style showcase area integrated into Day 1 of the Smart Food Factory event on the 30 September at imec, Leuven. Participants can see working systems, ask technical questions, and discuss deployment pathways. These are hands-on showcases—not slide decks.
Food production accounts for nearly one third of global greenhouse gas emissions. The innovations on display address this challenge by reducing waste, improving efficiency, and making food systems more sustainable. It’s a story of proven impact and a preview of what scales next.
Smart data, smarter waste
Smart data platform maximising the value of waste, at scale
Anteja treats waste as the start of a new value chain. At the core is the Value Chain Generator (VCG), powered by BioLink®, a proprietary algorithm that uses advanced data processing and AI to turn by-products into resources. Companies use VCG to identify circular opportunities, design new business models, and unlock hidden value—converting disposal costs into revenue while cutting environmental impact.
In-line quality control for sauces
How IoT can assess mayonnaise quality
The Mayo-Q project integrates IoT and NIR spectroscopy sensors directly into mayonnaise production at Cidacos. The result is continuous, real-time monitoring of quality and fat content, with each batch recorded on blockchain. Producers have improved efficiency, optimised oil use, and strengthened transparency for regulators and consumers. Europeans consume an estimated three million tonnes of mayonnaise annually; this technology helps ensure consistent quality at scale.
Natural-language access to factory data
Ask Titan
Ask Titan is an AI colleague that makes company data instantly accessible. Without dashboards, IT tickets, or spreadsheet work, users can query real-time information from ERP and production systems in natural language. Planners, sales teams, and operations staff already use it to make faster, evidence-based decisions—without specialist data skills.
Integrated production insights
Monitoring the digitalised production process with integrated data insights
RBK Group embeds expert know-how into the line via real-time monitoring and operator guidance. Food producers face major challenges: reducing waste, tackling inefficiencies, and coping with skills shortages. RBK’s approach safeguards consistency, reduces waste, and maintains throughput in high-volume operations—digitising best practice where it matters most.
Digital twin for wine fermentation
Digital Twin for Wine Fermentation Process Optimisation
At Puklavec Family Wines (Slovenia), automated digital refractometers feed real-time data to a central digital twin. Oenologists can predict and fine-tune fermentation conditions, improving batch-to-batch consistency and safeguarding product character. The tool enhances the science without diminishing the craft.
AI-based production planning for dairy
Implementing AI-based production planning for cream cheese manufacturing
Working with Innolact (Quescrem), PREVAI integrates purchasing, sales, and production data to forecast demand and optimise plans. Live dashboards and predictive models help reduce waste, improve efficiency, and align output with market needs—bringing precision to a millennia-old craft.
Mobile cobot for flexible, hygienic tasks
The mobile cobot, a reliable partner on the work floor
Part of the NXTGEN Hightech initiative, the Bin Pick Food Cell is a mobile robotic unit for hygienic environments. It automates repetitive tasks such as bin picking and performs precision dosing. Designed for flexibility, it can move between workstations, supporting both large manufacturers and SMEs. Plants have improved throughput, ergonomics, and consistency while easing staffing constraints.
Why it matters
From AI assistants to digital twins, from circular data platforms to mobile cobots, each demonstration provides concrete proof of how Europe’s food industry can be smarter, greener, and more resilient. The project is not only rethinking how food is made; it clarifies how technology supports fair and sustainable food systems.
HIGHFIVE started as a vision. In Leuven and Brussels, it becomes visible reality—showing that when clusters, innovators, and SMEs work together, the sector can move from pilot to plate.
Practical information
Participation is free of charge but registration is required due to limited capacity.