Agrofood BIC
About this good practice
The vision of Agrofood Business Innovation Centre is to inspire innovative ecosystems and design the future of agri-food value chain, acting in synergy with other partners to find solutions to meet the needs of an ever-changing society. Agrofood BIC is an accelerator of promising start-ups in the food & beverage and agro-industrial sectors, able to convert innovative ideas into concrete entrepreneurial initiatives, with adequate operational and strategic support. The shared goal is the creation of an accelerator of promising and innovative start-ups specialized in selected focus areas including Sustainability & Circular economy.
In particular, the start-ups are followed along their growth path through targeted advice and specific tools to facilitate market entry and break down the initial barriers to their entry. The partners of the Agrofood BIC Project have created a real ecosystem for start-ups, providing factories, pilot systems, research and development support and access to a network of relationships in the food production chain that will decisively enhance the new entrepreneurs’ chances of success.
Agrofood BIC S.r.l. is the result of a joint initiative of 6 firms: Granarolo, Gellify, Camst, Conserve Italia, Cuniola (IMA Group) and Eurovo. The project attracted also the participation of 3 public entities: University of Bologna, Enea - National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development and the regional development agency ART-ER.
Resources needed
Every partner put at disposal of the innovators its plants, as well as 1 Board member for the Board of Directors and at least 1 R&D Director for the Technical Committe per partner; the project requires also R&D staff. The project is run thanks to annual partners fees plus flexible investments.
Evidence of success
The first success of the project is the cooperation of 6 leading companies in different sectors, that aggregated their skills to seize and enhance valuable business opportunities. Moreover, the project opens factories to young innovators. The first call for ideas has been released in 2020 to support 5 promising innovators in the fields of nutrition & health and innovative sustainable packaging. Two start-ups financed till now: Cynomys (sensors for stables) and Mirnagreen (micro RNA plant based).
Potential for learning or transfer
The project aims at boosting innovation in the agri-food sector, thanks to innovative sustainable solutions. It scouts young entrepreneurial ideas in the spaces and plants of leading companies offering a direct insight on the manufacturing systems and on the target market. The specificity of the project is that the project works on common needs and shared results thanks to the cooperation between companies.
Agrofood BIC has financed 2 start-ups in the first year but it plans to widen the ideas financed as the Covid pandemic will cease or slow its effects.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Agrofood BIC S.r.l.