Next Tech Food Factories
- Type
- Enabler
- Location
- Netherlands
- Industries
- Food processing robotics & machinery, Food safety & quality, E-commerce, Direct to consumer
- Technologies
- Artificial intelligence, Digital twin, Computer vision, Sensor technology, Industrial robotics, Food-processing robotics, Process automation, Smart & digital
About Next Tech Food Factories
Next Tech Food Factories is a joint cluster initiative of AgriFood Capital and Brainport Development focused on accelerating the adoption of smart technologies in the food processing industry. It works with food processing companies, high-tech suppliers, and machine builders to develop, test, and implement robotics, artificial intelligence, digital twins, sensors, and other digital technologies in food production.
The initiative positions itself as a practical enabler for the food processors of the future. Its mission is to help the sector produce more sustainably, flexibly, demand-oriented, efficiently, and in a more labor-friendly way, while also improving food safety, quality, and competitiveness.
Core Values
- Innovation: The initiative is built around introducing and scaling smart technologies in food processing, from automation and robotization to AI and digital twins.
- Sustainability: It emphasizes more sustainable production through lower emissions, more efficient operations, and better use of resources.
- Labor-friendly production: A key theme is improving working conditions by reducing heavy, repetitive, or monotonous tasks through automation and cobots.
- Efficiency and productivity: The organization highlights higher labor productivity, more efficient operations, and better market readiness as outcomes of technology adoption.
- Food safety and quality: Smart technologies are presented as supporting quality control and food safety in advanced production environments.
Unique Aspects
- Joint cluster backing: Next Tech Food Factories operates as a program office of AgriFood Capital and Brainport Development, giving it a strong regional innovation platform.
- Real-world test infrastructure: Its Food Automation Test Locations allow companies to validate technologies in practical settings before scaling them commercially.
- Cross-sector collaboration model: It brings together food processors, high-tech suppliers, and machine builders to co-develop and implement solutions.
- Project portfolio with European scope: The initiative runs multiple projects, including HIGHFIVE and Food scalEUp, that connect regional food innovation to broader European digital and agrifood ecosystems.