DIL e.V.
- Type
- Research, Education & Health Organisation
- Location
- Quakenbrück, Germany
- Industries
- Food safety & quality, Food ingredients & products, New food processing techniques, Supply chain monitoring & traceability
- Domains
- Ingredients
- Technologies
- Extrusion, Fermentation, Analytical measurement, Process automation, Platform technology, Processing, Biotechnology & sustainable inputs, Measurement & sensing
About DIL e.V.
DIL Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik e. V. is a non-university, non-profit research institute focused on food technology and innovation. Founded in 1983 and based in Quakenbrück, it works across the food value chain to develop practical solutions for the food industry, combining food technology, food science, analytics, sustainability, and food data expertise.
The institute positions itself as a bridge between science and practice. With around 120 experts, more than 150 member companies, and a network of industrial, academic, and research partners, DIL supports applied research, technology transfer, and the development of innovative, sustainable, and resilient food systems.
Core Values
- Innovation: DIL emphasizes the development of new processes, products, and technologies that can be translated into practical industrial use.
- Sustainability: A central theme is the creation of circular and resilient food systems, with research aimed at more sustainable production and processing.
- Quality and safety: The institute focuses on improving food quality, safety, authenticity, and nutritional value through rigorous research and analytics.
- Collaboration: DIL works closely with industry partners, universities, research institutions, and public funders to ensure relevance and impact.
- Practical relevance: Its research is explicitly application-oriented, with a strong emphasis on technology transfer and usable outcomes for companies.
Unique Aspects
- Strong bridge between research and engineering: DIL combines an institute with DIL Technologie GmbH and DIL Engineering GmbH, helping move research results into market-ready technical solutions.
- Broad food-system coverage: Its work spans the full food value chain, from raw materials and ingredients through processing, structure, functionality, and nutritional effects.
- Internationally networked base in Quakenbrück: Located in the center of Lower Saxony’s food industry, DIL operates from Quakenbrück with additional sites in Brussels, Berlin, and Karlsruhe.
- Large member and partner network: The institute reports more than 150 member companies and strong partnerships across industry, academia, and research organizations.
- Substantial public research funding: DIL states that its research funding volume for 2020 to 2029 is about EUR 18.6 million, supported largely by EU, federal, and Lower Saxony funding.