How Q-PorkChains benefits the industry

Q-PorkChains has a strong focus on innovation. Main breakthroughs are expected in the field of:

• consumer/citizen demand – production linkages throughout the pork chain;
• knowledge and technologies for product development in meat processing;
• quality control in the pork production chain and
• prediction models for quality, safety and animal welfare.

The research and technology developments will be completed by applied research in pilot chains and demonstration activities. These are core elements in the project which focus on the involvement of the industry and especially on Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in testing and demonstrating innovations and new technologies.

Involving SMEs as research partners, communicating research activities and results to a broad number of SMEs is the major challenge for the whole project. The SME Liaison Officer will communicate the outcome of Q-PorkChains such as scientific results, innovative concepts and ideas in a target group focused manner. So that SME actors can be guided towards the innovation potentials for their particular field of work. This service will ensure that a broad number of companies can benefit from the scientific knowledge in the production of diverse pork products with highest quality at all stages of pork production.

Activities for knowledge exchange and dissemination:

1. A web-based platform targeted for the industry and SMEs is set up in the summer of 2007, click here
2. Targeted demonstration and training events of project results will be realised for SMEs in different European countries towards the end of the project
3. The SME Liaison Officer offers a direct and informal support for any SME related project issues.

There are several other important advantages for the pork industry and SMEs to participate or keep up to date with Q-PorkChains:

• Developing technologies that suit their specific needs of pork production.
  Industry, research institutes and academia co-operate more closely in order to satisfy all the three demands: quality, safety and low-cost processing
• Strengthening the technological innovation capacity and capacity to absorb new technologies developed by others.
• Sharing risks and costs of research between project partners as well as with the EU.
• Active participation of SMEs and larger industries in pilot research and demonstration chains.
• Nine “pilot chains” and four “demonstration chains” act as ‘real-world laboratories’ and integrate research with “on the ground” validation. Four Pilot chains have already been outlined. The thematic focus of five additional Pilot chains and four additional demonstration chains will determined in the course of the project. 2.25 Mio. € of the project budget have been reserved for testing the most promising innovations deriving from the project. Industry partners will be invited to become a chain coordinator through competitive calls in the third and fourth year of the project.
• Networking opportunities with partners in other regions and countries.

If you have any industry related questions concerning Q-PorkChains or any questions about pilot chains and demonstration activities don’t hesitate to contact:

The Industry and especially SME Liaison Officer

Maren Bruns

GIQS e.V.

e-mail:

Tel.: +49 228 73 4931

The Office is managed by www.giqs.org. GIQS is a platform for public-private co-operations in research and development The organisation has extensive experience in targeted knowledge exchange of innovation related research and technology development results.

The following industry partners and industry associations are already members of the project consortium (in alphabetical order):

• Association of Meat Processors in Bulgaria (Bulgaria)                     
• Casademont (Spain)
• Chainfood (Netherlands)
• Chambre Régionale d'Agriculture de Bretagne (France)
• Danish Crown (Denmark)
• Erzeugergemeinschaft Osnabrueck (Germany)
• Esteban Espuña (Spain)
• France Hybrides (France)
• Glon Group (France)
• Nutreco, Swine Research Centre (Netherlands)
• Pigchamp Pro (Spain)
• Pig Improvement Company (United Kingdom)
• Qualitype (Germany)
• R-Biopharm (Germany)
• Vion Food Group (Netherlands)
• Zentralverband der Deutschen Schweineproduktion (Germany)