Food Workshop

Food Workshop is testing and developing good practices in the food sector. The aim of the project is to find new forms of co-operation between research organisations and companies and to generate new ways to improve the development work in the food industry. The project also aims to bring competitive advantages to companies in South Ostrobothnia: New information may help the companies to create new kind of added value to their customers.
The project is based on the gastronomy food club concept which helps firms to create new knowledge and skills. The concept also connects customers into different phases of the food development process, which normally is not possible. The companies can use this process as a new innovation tool. This will be done with a tight co-operation between firms, researchers, students and customers.
The researchers and educational institutions bring their own know-how directly to the needs of the company. In workshops also students are able to apply their learned knowledge in real cases. The contents of workshops are designed in close cooperation with the companies. A theory presentation is prepared into the workshops based on the literature. There are also small-scale tests such as how different production methods affect the properties of the product. All the parties who participate in the workshop act as evaluators. An interactive discussion makes new ideas possible. With the help of workshops the innovative ability of companies increases.