Especially in the digital age, there are numerous ways to improve eating routines, health behavior, or daily shopping. Veronika Prankl from the Innovation Office of the enable clusters explains how these innovative ideas – whether in existing companies or startups – are supported and promoted.
1. Hello Ms. Prankl, what is enable and who is interested in the work?
The enable research cluster was launched in June 2015 and addresses the topic of healthy nutrition in all phases of life. In addition to scientific partners from throughout Bavaria, the cluster also includes industrial and craft businesses, thus supporting the transfer of knowledge between research and business.
The main goal of the enable cluster: to enable people to enjoy a healthy and tasty diet according to their life stage, including through the development of healthier convenience products, especially for people at increased risk of diet-related diseases.
Startups can apply for funding
2. enable also promotes innovation. What exactly is being funded, and how can I get funding?
enable promotes innovative products, technologies, or social concepts that support a healthy diet. Nutrition is a hot trend! Hardly any other sector is currently as innovative as this area, which deals with food and, in turn, human health.
Our particular concern is therefore to promote new concepts and developments that ensure consumers a modern lifestyle while at the same time providing optimal health care.
Startups, SMEs or craft businesses can apply to the enable innovation office.
The enable funding opportunities
The enable innovation vouchers
Financial support in the form of an innovation voucher is ideal for SMEs or start-ups that require additional technical expertise for their new development. The enable innovation voucher offers a quick and unbureaucratic way to implement smaller research projects.
Scientists from leading Bavarian universities and research institutes in the fields of medicine, nutritional research, food technology, computer science, consumer research, and social sciences are available for research projects in the enable cluster. Advice on the use and application of vouchers is available through the enable Innovation Office.
The enable Innovation Award
The enable Innovation Prize, endowed with €10,000, will be awarded in spring 2018. The prize is aimed at Bavarian companies with innovative products, technologies, or social concepts that promote healthy eating. Applications are expected to be accepted at the enable Innovation Office starting in October 2017.
3. What other services does enable offer for companies?
Innovation thrives on the exchange of ideas and knowledge. At enable, we believe this is essential for creating and driving innovation forward.
Startups, SMEs, and industry therefore also benefit from networking opportunities at enable. In open workshops, scientists discuss questions about the future of nutrition together with industry representatives, and seminars are offered that provide concrete support for founders and manufacturers.
4. How can I contact enable?
The first point of contact is the enable innovation office with me, Veronika Prankl, as your contact person or our website.
Ms. Prankl, thank you very much for the interview.
The interview appeared in the newsletter 'IHK-SPEZIAL Innovation' from May 2017.
It was led by David Stephenson from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Munich and Upper Bavaria.
