Future Food Factory OWL
Future Food Factory OWL is a research-driven living lab hosted by
Technische Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe (TH OWL), focusing on
Real-time quality control, refinery and process control for food systems,
Food data processing and automation and food innovation. Main
Focus areas are beverage technology including consumer science,
Baking and confectionary technology and technology of protein-based
Foods (including meat and vegan alternatives).
Process & Engagement
Future Food Factory collaborates with a diverse range of stakeholders, including food and IT companies and machine builders as well as academic institutions, government bodies, and civil society organizations. These partnerships are facilitated through cooperation agreements and project-based collaborations, with an increasing focus on expanding contract research activities. Innovation is driven by the combination of infrastructure and active participation in collaborative networks such as smartfoodtechnologyOWL,a S2B partnership around the topic of research on integrating digital and IT solutions into food processing operations.
Success Story
Future Food Factory OWL has a state-of-the-art technology and lab infrastructure and is consistently developing. This enables multi-disciplinary and high qualitative applied research and test case development. Success factors are the lively start-up support system and well-established networking formats that are renown and well appreciated by partners.
Impact & Results
Future Food Factory has an impact on the German and European food innovation system. Especially the uptake of the “refinery approach” has been proven to be valuable and was able to significantly reduce CO2-emissions in several companies.
Challenges & Lessons
Development of a functioning and sustainable organization and management team is challenging due to the lack of structural funding.
Looking Ahead
A supportive network is being built to increase structural funding. Building connections on a European Scale helps creating new possibilities.
Key Message
Deep understanding of processes combined with state-of-the-art technology and out-of-the-box thinking drives innovation in the food processing sector.
