Food Valley (Ruokalaakso)

The services of Food Valley are aimed at enterprises in the food sector, as well as for research and development organisations that need the services of the platform, for example, for implementing their projects.

The services of Food Valley are aimed at enterprises in the food sector, as well as for research and development organisations that need the services of the platform, for example, for implementing their projects.

Food Valley produces support services to promote the product development of enterprises in the food sector and other actors (such as research and development organisations) in relation to the manufacture of new products or the improvement of existing ones through research and/or development work. The services may also be related to the assessment of the viability and the development needs of an idea.

The services and expertise are produced by the organisations operating in the innovation platform, i.e. the Savonia University of Applied Sciences, development company SavoGrow and the clinical nutrition department of the University of Eastern Finland. The service can also be produced by another network company when the request in accordance with the customer need is forwarded to a suitable enterprise/organisation carrying on business within the subject matter of the need in question.

Services and available equipment

Palvelut
  • Practical product development and test production of food products (SavoGrow): TRL 5-9.
  • Self-monitoring (SavoGrow): training TRL 5-7, drawing up plans TRL 8-9, audit TRL 8-9.
  • Consumer tests (concept and product tests with a consumer panel) (Savonia): in terms of the concept TRL 2-4, in terms of product testing TRL 7-9.
  • Market research (Savonia): TRL 2-3
  • Development of recipes (Savonia): TRL 4-6
  • Space, equipment and process design service for food technology (Savonia): TRL 1-2
  • Instruction in the deployment of new food facilities and equipment (Savonia): TRL 7-9
  • Microbiological food research services (UEF): TRL 4
  • Testing of gut-mediated impacts of foods and raw materials (gut model) (UEF): TRL 4
  • Clinical meal tests and diet interventions (UEF): TRL 4-6
  • Literature reviews (UEF): TRL 1-2
  • Expert lectures/advice (UEF): TRL 1-2
Equipment

Product development and test preparation facilities with equipment:  http://www.savogrow.fi/kehittamispalvelut/elintarvikekehitys/tuotekehitystilat

Laboratory equipment (UEF): Food microbiology and clinical laboratory equipment, definition of basic nutrition contents in food analytics, and, where applicable, mineral analyses, gut model equipment (to model digestion of food and the impacts of food/materials in the stomach, small intestine and large intestine), imaging equipment (https://www.uef.fi/fi/web/siblabs/laboratoriot-ja-laitteet). 

Consumer research equipment (Savonia):  https://futurefood.savonia.fi/tilat . In addition, for academic research use, sensory assessment and consumer research facilities and equipment at UEF

Location

Pohjois-Savo

Organisation(s)

Savonia University of Applied Sciences
University of Eastern Finland
SavoGrow

Competences

Innovative technologies & production processes

Growth sectors

Bio economy & new products, Manufacturing industry

TRL-level

TRL 1-3, TRL 4-6, TRL 7-9

Contact(s)

Jenni Lappi
jenni.lappi(at)savonia.fi
+358 44 785 5353