The Food4CE project today officially launched its Transnational Innovation Hub (TIH), marking an important step forward in promoting innovation and cooperation in Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) and Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) across Central Europe.
The online kick-off meeting gathered representatives from the five Regional Innovation Hubs — Slovenia (ORbITaLA), Austria (Austrian Food Connective), Italy (Localog), Poland (PULS), and Hungary (Food4Health Budapest) — to share experiences, lessons learned, and next steps.
The Transnational Innovation Hub acts as a collaborative platform that connects regional initiatives and stakeholders from different countries to enhance collective knowledge and foster innovation. Its main goal is to facilitate knowledge exchange and mutual support among participating countries, enabling the sharing of experiences, best practices, and needs across national borders. By creating a unique network of cooperation among regional hubs, the TIH encourages joint problem-solving, the exchange of insights, and the co-creation of innovative solutions.
Through this integrated approach, the Hub contributes to strengthening Alternative Food Networks in Central Europe, improving their functionality and resilience, and promoting a more connected and sustainable food ecosystem on a transnational scale.
“The Transnational Hub brings together regional initiatives, helping them to learn from each other and jointly address common challenges. It’s a cornerstone for scaling up innovation and building a stronger, more connected food ecosystem in Central Europe,” said Riccardo Maratini from OpenENLoCC.
“By establishing this Hub, we are not only connecting partners across borders but also building a long-term framework for collaboration and knowledge sharing that will outlive the project itself,” added Maršenka Marksel from the University of Maribor, Lead Partner of the Food4CE project.
The meeting also highlighted the Knowledge Transfer Platform and the Matchmaking Platform, two tools developed within the framework of Food4CE and designed to support collaboration, innovation, and business development opportunities in local food systems.
The Food4CE project, funded by Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE, promotes sustainable, efficient, and innovative food supply chains by connecting producers, distributors, and consumers across the region.