University and industry partnership to foster food innovations

Researchers from across multiple disciplines within the University of Newcastle (UoN), as well as government members and experts from within the Central Coast food and beverage industry, are linking up to develop solutions for complex problems in the food and beverage industry.

The joint UoN and Central Coast Food Innovation Cluster has just been launched at Central Coast Campus at Ourimbah.

The cluster will combine the diverse skills, backgrounds and expertise of its participants to ensure an innovative approach to addressing industry and community concerns, such as identifying new products for market; establishing new opportunities to export; and issues such as nutritional value and food additives. The cluster will also generate new ideas and create opportunities for research breakthroughs which can be applied to real-life issues.

The Food Innovation Cluster will stage a number of networking events in 2014 inviting industry participants to put forward topics, themes or specific challenges for discussion.

The aim of the networking events will be to provide a forum for industry colleagues to discuss common challenges, share knowledge and tap into the university’s research capabilities to develop practical solutions that allow the food and beverage industry to prosper.

“The vision for the University of Newcastle clusters is to offer a one-stop shop for business, industry and government partners to work with our researchers, who bring different expertise to the table,” said Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Nick Talley.