Mission and Strategic Aims
The Centre for Agricultural and Food Industry Knowledge Utilisation at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management (FAFSEM-UD) supports a diverse and dynamic portfolio of research and innovation activities. These initiatives are closely aligned with the regional and national strategic priorities, with particular emphasis on strengthening the agri-food sector and enhancing its international competitiveness.
The Centre’s core mission is to integrate the faculty’s wide-ranging R&D&I activities and ensure that the scientific results, technological developments, and innovations generated within the faculty are translated into tangible, applicable outcomes. Achieving this requires deepened collaboration with key regional and national stakeholders, fostering research outputs that strengthen the economic capacity of both industrial partners and the University.
Operating in an increasingly interconnected and consumer-responsive global environment, the Centre ensures that all products, services, scientific findings, and technological innovations reflect contemporary societal expectations and market dynamics.
Primary Objectives
The Centre’s overarching goal is to maximise the research potential of the Faculty by facilitating activities that create economic value and support meaningful collaborations. Through effective project initiation, coordination, and implementation, the Centre contributes to expanding R&D&I capacities, ensuring that scientific achievements are efficiently utilised.
An integral part of its mission is the coordinated presentation and organisation of research-related services offered across the Faculty’s institutes and departments. The Centre also maintains continuous professional relationships not only with industrial partners but also with collaborating research institutions and professional organisations, which is essential for the growth of joint R&D&I activities.
Furthermore, the Centre plays a key role in valorising intellectual property generated within the Faculty and coordinating related dissemination and publication activities.
Collaborative Research and Industrial Engagement
Our expanding network of industrial partners enables the application of the Faculty’s expertise across a broad spectrum of thematic areas. Joint projects address contemporary challenges in crop and livestock production, plant protection and animal health, plant and animal physiology, food safety and traceability, as well as the development of specialised food technologies and preservation methods. We also contribute to the design and testing of innovative quality management and tracking systems.
The development and introduction of new high-value products - including functional and health-promoting foods - significantly strengthen the competitiveness of the agri-food sector.
Services and Activities of the Innovation and Knowledge Utilisation Centre
- Initiation and implementation of specialised technology and product development projects
- Development of strategic innovation concepts and plans; support for expanding the research portfolio and leveraging existing expertise
- Identification and acquisition of R&D&I funding opportunities; preparation of a funding map and action plan
- Generation and formulation of new project initiatives
- Expansion of industrial partnerships, assessment of partner needs, and involvement of new cluster members
- Professional advisory services
- Support for the utilisation and dissemination of development results
- Intellectual property advisory services, facilitation, and management
- Active contribution to the expansion of the Faculty’s service activities
- Provision of technology-transfer services to agricultural and food industry partners
- Support for the effective operation and utilisation of Faculty infrastructure