Research firm seeks food producer
A chilled food producer is being sought to take part in a new research investigation. It is hoped that the research will come up with a way of recording core temperatures in-line, in real-time and without damaging the product, which is a recurring problem for the sector.
The work is part of the Championing Innovation between the Engineering and Food Sectors (ChIEFS) project, which is being co-ordinated by the Food Processing Faraday, an independent provider of services to help the food supply chain turn knowledge into business solutions.
David Walklate, innovation consultant at the Faraday is forming a group to find a solution to this particular problem. The group includes the Faraday, an unnamed engineering company, university and research establishment. The engineering company is apparently so confident that it can solve the problem and that the rewards will be huge, for all sorts of food industries - chilled, sliced meats, baked good, etc - that it is willing to fund the development itself.
However, for the project to work, a food company is required to help conduct trial work and provide product knowledge, in exchange for being the ‘first to market’ with no accompanying risks. Ideally, the company will be a producer of chilled ‘simple’ foods, rather than complex multi-portion ready meals. For more details email David Walker.
The ChIEFS project, designed to catalyse innovation between the engineering and food sectors within the East Midlands, is now entering its final six months. The project has engaged with over 230 food and engineering companies; developed over 60 collaboration projects between food, engineering and/or universities; increased engineering sales by £1.6M with a potential final figure of over £4M; identified key technology gaps within the food sector; commenced development of eight prototypes; and helped create 21 jobs in the East Midlands region.
