foodigIT: computational FOOD science and DIGItal Transformation ERA Chair programme

The EU agri-food industry is facing major challenges related to Food Security, Safety and Sustainability.

European R&I actors can significantly contribute to addressing these challenges and support competiveness of EU food sector.

The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), the largest university in Greece is widely recognised as an excellent food science R&I centre.

A SWOT analysis reveals that due to the fragmentation of food research across different schools, the huge R&I potential of AUTh is not yet fully exploited, hampering progress in research excellence and talent attractiveness.

In line with the new ERA for Research and Innovation, the European Green Deal and the EU4Digital strategy, at the heart of this proposal is the ambitious vision to establish the computational food science and digital transformation (foodigIT) Centre at AUTh.

Under the guidance of a distinguished ERA Chair foodigIT aims to bridge food science across AUTh and R&I excellence by integrating current food research with data science cutting-edge digital tools and Information Technology (IT) solutions.

This integration will attract top-tier talents and act as a transformative force boosting research and infrastructure synergy across AUTh.

The foodigIT Centre is also poised to be a cornerstone for reshaping the relationship between academia and society through the creation of foodigITeco, a new Innovation and Knowledge Transfer ecosystem based on an extensive partnership network with R&I organisations, food industry federations, regulators/competent authorities and consumer associations. foodigITeco will transfer cutting-edge research results and knowledge from academia to the food industry, but also act as a conduit for industry needs, identifying challenges and requirements directly from the food sector and integrating them into AUTh's education programme.

Overall, foodigIT will enhance AUThs visibility and competitiveness in the European Research Area.