From idea to development project

Do you have an idea on how we could jointly develop a data-driven food chain in Finland? Would you like to get project funding to implement your idea? Great! Here are the stages to turn your idea into a Food Data Finland co-development project.

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 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 program 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 interoperability 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.