Development projects promote the digitalization and innovations of the food chain

Food Data Finland brings concreteness to data cooperation in the food chain through jointly implemented development projects. At the same time, the program links the individual development projects of the food chain into a complementary whole.

Check out the other Food Data Finland development projects as well!

You can find information about them in the Development projects menu in the top navigation.

Common development themes have been identified in the project, and by focusing on them, it is believed that the competitiveness of the entire Finnish food chain will be strengthened. The purpose is to  create joint development projects in accordance with development themes, and any actor in the Food Data Finland member network can promote them.

Other joint projects aimed at developing the food chain and utilizing Finnish data can also be implemented under the Food Data Finland program, even if they are outside of the program themes. The condition is that the goals of the projects are in line with the regulations and goals of the program.

1. Prepare a preliminary project plan

Make a preliminary project plan for your project idea alone or in cooperation with member network companies that are committed to implementing the project. The public part of the project plan should be written in such a way that the project coordinators and management team can take a position on whether the development project is suitable as part of the Food Data Finland Growth Engine program.

2. Discuss the plan with the coordinators

Go through the preliminary project plan with Food Data Finland's coordinators. In the discussion, it is agreed whether the project idea is ready to be taken to the management team as it is, or how the project plan can be supplemented. In addition, it is decided whether the development project will be presented and offered to the member network or other potential project partners.

3. Present the project plan to the project management team

After reviewing the preliminary project plan and possible additions, it will be agreed together on taking it to Food Data Finland's management team for consideration. The management team evaluates the plan in relation to the goals of the Growth Engine Project and the needs of the overall development of the food chain. In addition, the management team decides whether it recommends joining the project as part of the Food Data Finland program. The probability of a positive recommendation from the management team increases when elements that promote the shared goals of the food chain can be identified in the project plan, such as improving the transparency of the chain, ease of sharing data and promoting the combinability of data.

4. Finalize the project plan

After receiving a positive recommendation from the management team, prepare a detailed project plan and invite the partners you have already identified or potential partners to participate in the preparation of the development project. If you are applying for funding from Business Finland, go to point five.

5. Apply Business Finland funding

If you apply for funding from Business Finland, start now the funding application discussions. Business Finland's potential contribution to project ideas is typically 40–70% (grant 40–50%, loan 50–70%). In addition, the organizations must have their own internal decision on reserving self-financing shares for the implementation of the project.

When you have received a positive funding decision from Business Finland, the development project will be included as part of the Food Data Finland program. The project will be actively monitored as part of the Growth Engine program and communicated on Food Data Finland's channels.