Research, Development and Innovation projects

Viikki Food Design Factory (VFDF) facilitates the co-creation of Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) projects aimed at food systems sustainability transformation.

VFDF aids in the design and development of private-public RDI project concepts and plans that are based on science and have true commercialization potential while advancing the transition towards sustainable food systems. VFDF facilitates the achievement of the objectives of all involved parties: researchers, companies and the funding institute, both in the application phase and the project management phase.  

VFDF forms project consortiums among its vast network of over 130 actors (companies, startups, research institutes, investors, innovation ecosystems, regional actors, etc.), including also new parties. It acts as the co-creation facilitator between the RDI project members, contributing to the high-standard delivery of the development and innovation outcomes of the joint projects.

In the RDI projects, VFDF facilitates the process of converting the research findings and scientific knowledge into applicable understanding to be utilized by the companies, as well as translating company perspectives into meaningful research inputs. It also facilitates the collaboration between the companies where needed.  

VFDF can also manage the project development and funding application creation process with expertise in co-creation, project management, and grant writing.  

Current and past projects where VFDF has facilitated the co-creation of sustainable food innovations
Food SystemiCity programme
  • Project Duration: 2023-2025
  • Funder: EU’s Regional development fund & University of Helsinki
  • Project summary: Food SystemiCity is a programme to facilitate business creation and to enable the transition into sustainable local food systems in cities and built environments. 
Our Data Ecosystem for Value Added Grain
  • Project duration: 2024 – 2026
  • Funder: Business Finland
  • Project summary: Our Data project focuses on the collaborative use of data ('our data') for business development in primary production and related enterprises.  
Food Step - a sustainable health-promoting model for food services and early childhood education and care
  • Project duration: 2021-2024
  • Funder: Academy of Finland
  • Project summary: The aim of the FoodStep project was to develop a sustainable operating model that will support children’s healthy diets and reduce the climate impacts of food provision in early childhood education and care.