Contact
Guðjón Þorkelsson
Strategic Scientist
gudjon.thorkelsson@matis.is
Workshop on SMEs and Nordic Food Competence Centers - New Nordic Mad II / Workshop on food factories and new Nordic foods
All over the Nordic countries, there are food factories that provide entrepreneurs and small producers with advice and access to production facilities. The food factories have organized courses, conferences and helped to form networks and exchange experiences. There are 5 such workshops in Norway that Nofima runs with the support of Innovation Norway. In Iceland, there are three food factories that Matís runs in collaboration with municipalities and business development associations. In Finland, the Food Development Competence Cluster is part of the National Center of Expertise Program and has five food factories around the country. There are many such workshops in Sweden, for example there are counseling centers in Jämtland for farmers who produce milk on a small scale. In the town of Östersund, which was voted "Unesco City of Gastronomy" in 2011, you will find Eldrimner, a national center for small producers in Sweden. In Denmark, there are many different centers with a similar approach, ie. to support entrepreneurs and small producers. The aim of this workshop was for representatives from all these food workshops to meet and learn from each other, build networks and come up with ideas on how activities such as these could support and strengthen "New Nordic Food".
In all Nordic countries there are competence centers that offer entrepreneurs and very small scale producers services like consultation, processing facilities, courses, seminars, networks, work practice exchanges and more. In Norway there are five centers run by Nofima and supported by Innovation Norway. In Iceland there are three run by Matís in collaboration with local authorities and support agencies. In Finland the Food Development Competence Cluster is a part of the National Center of Expertise Program with five food centers around the country. In Sweden there are many centers for example: Resource center for small scale dairy production in Jamtland. In Östersund the Unesco city of gastronomy 2011 we have "Eldrimner", the Swedish National Center for Small Scale Artisan Food Processing giving producers the best possible support. In Denmark there are many different centers with the same approach to support entrepreneurs and small scale producers. The aim of this seminar/workshop was to bring the Competence Centers together for two days to get to know and learn from each other; build a network and to discuss and come up with proposals on how these activities can support and strengthen New Nordic Food.