SS4AF’s dynamic network of Living Labs demonstrated the immense potential of smart sensor technologies and innovative practices in transforming food processing. Now, SIXFOLD takes that momentum further by integrating deep tech, advanced digital platforms, and regional expertise, ensuring that European agrifood companies remain at the cutting edge of sustainability and efficiency.
Connecting the Dots: From SS4AF to SIXFOLD
The link between SS4AF and SIXFOLD is both strategic and evolutionary. While SS4AF created a fertile ground for innovation through its extensive stakeholder network and practical demonstrations, SIXFOLD builds on this legacy to create an even more robust ecosystem. By harnessing deep tech solutions and fostering cross-sector collaboration, SIXFOLD transforms those initial successes into scalable, market-ready innovations that will set new benchmarks across the European agrifood landscape.
Meet the SIXFOLD Partners
SeAMK 🇫🇮 leads the project as the coordinator, overseeing the overall strategy and managing critical work packages such as the development and validation of the Action Plan and project coordination. With a strong background in research and innovation management, SeAMK ensures that insights gathered from across the network are effectively synthesized into actionable steps that pave the way for future deep tech integration in the agrifood industry.
Agrifood Capital 🇳🇱 brings its expertise in innovative thinking to the table by designing and implementing a co-creative methodology that drives collaborative problem-solving. Their role is to establish a design thinking framework that guides study visits, workshops, and other interactive sessions, helping all partners to identify and overcome barriers to technology adoption. They also contribute to the overall strategic management of the project.
FLANDERS’ FOOD 🇧🇪 is responsible for mapping the current landscape of deep tech innovations and Living Labs across partner regions. Leveraging their experience in agri-food innovation, they conduct comprehensive desktop studies and interviews to update and expand the Operational Handbook—a key resource that outlines the strengths, challenges, and opportunities within the regional ecosystems. This mapping exercise is essential for understanding where and how innovations can best be implemented.
Technische Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe (TH OWL) 🇩🇪 takes charge of connecting the dots through a series of study visits and workshops. By organizing visits to various Living Labs, TH OWL enables a rich exchange of best practices among agrifood companies, tech innovators, and regulators. Their work not only highlights regional strengths and challenges but also helps develop practical solutions to overcome barriers, fostering a more interconnected and supportive ecosystem.
AgriFood Lithuania 🇱🇹 leads the communication, dissemination, and exploitation work, ensuring that the valuable insights and outcomes of SIXFOLD reach a broad audience. With a focus on engaging agri-food companies, policymakers, and the public, they develop strategic messaging and create a visual identity that underpins the project’s long-term sustainability and impact. Their efforts ensure that the network of Living Labs and the accompanying Action Plan continue to benefit stakeholders long after the project concludes.
Finally, ITG 🇪🇸 contributes as the technical backbone of the consortium. ITG’s expertise in developing advanced digital platforms and sensor networks supports the overall infrastructure of SIXFOLD. Their technical know-how ensures that deep tech innovations are seamlessly integrated into the project’s framework, enabling robust data-driven decision-making and smart solutions that underpin the transformative goals of SIXFOLD.
The project is designed to be inclusive, offering opportunities for citizens, consumers, and local communities to engage through workshops, open innovation events, and interactive digital channels. This active participation ensures that the broader public can both contribute to and benefit from the evolution of sustainable food systems. By disseminating best practices, operational handbooks, and comprehensive guidelines, SIXFOLD aims to empower agrifood businesses, policymakers, and consumers alike, leading to improved food quality, enhanced sustainability, and a more resilient agrifood ecosystem across Europe.