The aim of the foodineum in Neuss is to sustainably strengthen and network the food industry in the Rhineland region. The cooperation project between the Rhine district of Neuss and The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) has started its activities with a new team at Markt 17-19.
On Monday, 17 November at 5 p.m., the first public event will take place in the foodineum as part of the nationwide start-up week. At the "CoFounder Meetup", people interested in founding a company will meet with start-ups to network, exchange ideas and initiate projects. Christian Löhr and Clara Wedemeyer from the start-ups Luup Coffee and Happen respectively will be taking part. Dr Petra Bracht (Public Relations at foodineum) will accept registrations by email at petra.bracht(at)rhein-kreis-neuss.de.
"Structural change can only succeed if we bring business, science and society together. The foodineum creates precisely these connections and thus becomes an important driver for shaping change in our region in an innovative and sustainable way," explains District Director Dirk Brügge.
"With the foodineum, we are creating a place where research comes to life. Here we bring ideas from science into practical application and make knowledge and technologies directly usable for companies in the food industry. This creates a space in which innovations can grow - for the benefit of the region and a sustainable food future," says Professor Dr Kathleen Diener, Vice President for Research and Innovation at the HSNR.
The structural change in the Rhenish mining area offers the opportunity to develop a model region for sustainability and innovation in the Rhine district of Neuss and the surrounding area. Traditionally, many food production and processing companies are based here - for example in the sugar beet, potato and grain sectors. This strength is to be further expanded with the establishment of the foodineum so that jobs and training places can be maintained or new ones created.
After the structural change project "Launch centre for the food industry" received a funding decision at the beginning of the year, a team of six employees started work. The surname foodineum combines the focus on food with the term "-neum" as a symbol for spaces and idea concepts - a "space for innovation".
The foodineum sees itself as an interface between research and practice. Knowledge and technologies from The Hochschule Niederrhein and other research facilities are made accessible to companies in the food industry in the Rhine district of Neuss and the entire Rhenish mining area. The aim is to transform ideas from the region into marketable, sustainable products and business models.
A particular focus is on resource-efficient and sustainable solutions along the entire food production chain - from plant-based raw materials and alternative proteins to quality, safety and food law issues. Stephanie Bienefeld takes over the management of the foodineum, Corinna Kuhlen the deputy project management.
Dialogue with society is an integral part of the concept. The foodineum aims to inform citizens about sustainable and health-promoting nutrition and raise awareness of food produced in a resource-conserving manner.
A large laboratory and test kitchen will be set up in the foodineum, where ideas on the topic of "new regional foods" will be developed. There will also be space for meetings and dialogue - for example between start-ups and established companies. The offices on the first floor have been completed and the employees have moved in. Numerous contacts have already been made with companies in the region in order to determine their needs and provide customised offers.
The foodineum is sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and co-financed by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It sees itself as an innovation centre for the food industry in the Rhineland region and offers space for research, exchange and the development of sustainable solutions along the entire food chain.
