National platform AgroBioFood Nitra
National platform AgroBioFood Nitra was set up in July 2016 by the Memorandum of Cooperation concluded between Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, National Agricultural and Food Centre and the association Bioeconomy Cluster.
The platform was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, which issued a Letter of Approval recognizing it as an expert partner for research and development in the field of foodstuffs and biotechnology and, at the same time, as an official representative of the Slovak Republic in relation to European and international initiatives and programmes.
Partners
Activities of the platform
Establishment of the platform was one of the first steps to present Slovakia to the consortium Food, Nutrition and Health Research Infrastructure (FNHRI). Its objective is to create research infrastructure in the field of nutrition, food systems and health care system in relation to the consumer and health.
The contact person for the AgroBioFood platform is prof. Adriana Kolesárová. Platform representatives meet regularly once a month to get information about calls, conferences, initiatives, projects, consortia (BioEast, Elixir, EuroDish, FoodForce, FNHRI).
Workshop: Towards Food, Nutrition and Health Research Infrastructure (FNHRI)
On 19 and 20 July 2017, AgroBioTech Research Centre of SUA in Nitra has hosted the Workshop „Towards FNHRI“. Workshop was aimed at learning about European research infrastructure in the domain of food, nutrition security and health; exploring new public and private contacts in Slovakia to support the establishment of FNHRI to enhance collaboration and translation of know-how along the food chain and consumer including policy and civil society organisations; discussing the relevance for Slovakia to support FNHRI at governmental level and via National Node; exploring the science case of FNHRI to provide and use relevant data, tools and services for multidisciplinary research involving food companies.
Prof. A. Kolesárová represented the platform on 8 September 2017 at the event of European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), titled "EIT Food Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) Networking Event" in Warsaw. This event was led by Prof. Krzysztof Klincewicz, director of the "Co-location centre" for EIT Food in Poland, who outlined the objectives and mission of the EIT. The role of the EIT is to strengthen Europe's innovation capacity and to support the EU's goals of creating sustainable economic growth and jobs. It stimulates entrepreneurial talent, supports new ideas, and canters on leading businesses, universities and research centres within the “knowledge triangle”. These together form dynamic cross-border partnerships called Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).
Prof. Kolesárová with prof. Klincewicz,
director of the Co-location centre for the northwest EIT Food
Together with vice-rector prof. Eleonóra Marišová, prof. Adriana Kolesárová participated at a discussion conference for the EIT RIS KIC held in Košice (30.11.-1.12.2017). They met with A. Strzelecki (EIT Food, Co-location centre for North-East, Warsaw). A. Strzelecki introduced the situation of 6 KICs and presented the created EIT Food (2016) KIC, HUB and CLC headquarters, partners (slides 16-18) and EIT FOOD. It currently has 13 members and other members will be accepted in 2019. Slovakia is an eligible country. Representatives of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (SUA) presented the AgroBioFood platform and in particular the research activities of the faculties of SUA, AgroBioTech Research Centre, National Agricultural and Food Centre and Bioeconomy cluster.
On February 14, 2018 prof. E. Marišová and prof. A. Kolesárová participated in a working meeting at the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic with the Director of the State Policy Implementation Department, European and International Research and Development Initiatives (Dr. Szabo) and Dr. Zendulka. Representatives of the Ministry welcomed the initiative to stabilize the platform and integrate it into EIT Food and another meeting was agreed at the level of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic.