SME success stories in the area of food agriculture and fisheries and biotechnology.
Date: 2009-02-03
Institutions: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
Subjects: biotechnology, food safety, foodstuff, product quality, research project, scientific cooperation, scientific research, small and medium-sized enterprises

SME

SUCCESS
STORIES

Food Quality 
and Safety

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SME Success Stories

in the area of Food Agriculture and Fisheries and 

Biotechnology 

EDITED BY Lisa LOCCHI, Szilvia NEMETH and Ati VASSAROTTI

With thanks to:

Jaap Bakker, Ebba Barany, Susanne Belz, Volker Böhm, Torger Borresen, 

Alessandro Capodicasa, Hallgeir Herikstad, Mogens Jakobsen, Matthias Kück, 

Ciaran Mangan, Dirk Pottier, Annette Schneegans, Willem Stiekema

European Commission 

Directorate-General for Research

Communication Unit

B-1049 Brussels

Fax (32-2) 29-58220

E-mail: research-eu@ec.europa.eu

Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/research/research-eu

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Directorate-General for Research

Directorate E — Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food Research

Unit E1 — Horizontal Aspects and Coordination

B-1049 Brussels

SME Contacts:  

Szilvia NEMETH: Szilvia.NEMETH@ec.europa.eu  

Alessio VASSAROTTI: Alessio. VASSAROTTI@ec.europa.eu

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION

SME Success Stories

in the area of Food Agriculture and Fisheries and 
Biotechnology

EDITED BY Lisa LOCCHI, Szilvia NEMETH and Ati VASSAROTTI

With thanks to:

Jaap Bakker, Ebba Barany, Susanne Belz, Volker Böhm, Torger Borresen, 
Alessandro Capodicasa, Hallgeir Herikstad, Mogens Jakobsen, Matthias Kück, 
Ciaran Mangan, Dirk Pottier, Annette Schneegans, Willem Stiekema

2008

Directorate-General for Research
Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology

EUR 23612 EN

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5 l SME Success Stories

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12

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18

Preface 
FP7 and SMEs -Participation pays off 
Are you still interested? 
KBBE and SMEs – A productive and profi table partnership
What’s in it for SMEs? Where can you fi nd out more?

Keygene N.V.
Participation helps to expand your business

Conesa - Conservas Vegetales 
de Extremadura SAU
Improving capacity building for food SMEs

Salumifi cio F. lli Spiezia SpA 
EU supports traditional food SMEs 
to strengthen competitiveness

Pittas Dairy Industries Ltd
Local SME goes international

Marinova ApS
COPALIS (ctpp)
Partnership increases profi tability

Traceall Ltd 
Exchanging knowledge on a global scale

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6 l SME Success Stories

FP7 and SMEs - 
Participation  
pays off

ARE YOU STILL INTERESTED?

FP7, which runs for the period 2007-

2013,  is  the  EU  instrument  specifi-

cally targeted at supporting research 

and  innovation.  It  provides  funding 

to  co-finance  research  and  techno-

Would  you  like  to  join  a  network 

logical innovation. 

connecting  your  SME  to  the  most 

prestigious 

universities 

and  

Participation 

is  a  great  way  to  

research institutes? 

develop new production techniques, 

find  networks  and  peers  for  fruitful 

Are you looking for a business part-

information  exchange,  and  ulti-

ner  willing  to  fund  R&D  (research 

mately  maximise  profits.  You  will 

and  development)  activities  that 

have the opportunity to work along-

you are keen to undertake but una-

side  scientists  and  researchers  and 

ble  to  finance  by  yourself?  What 

gain access to expertise and cutting 

about the possibility of having open 

edge  technologies  and  equipment 

access  to  high-tech  labs  and  con-

that  can  empower  your  practices 

tinuous scientific learning opportu-

and your enterprise’s professionals.

nities for your skilled workforce? 

For 

a 

step-by-step 

approach,  

If you want to know how this can be 

the  SME-TECHWEB  portal  provides 

made  possible,  read  the  following 

you  with  easy-to-understand  infor-

pages dedicated to what SME entre-

mation on how to participate in FP7. 

preneurs  and  managers  say  about 

The  calls  are  published  on  CORDIS, 

their  experience  of  EU-funded  re-

the 

European 

Research 

and 

search.  These  companies  have  all 

Development  Portal.  A  link  on  the 

opted  to  join  European  research 

home  page  will  direct  you  towards 

projects 

to 

stay 

competitive  

the dedicated area. 

and innovative. 

Europe has a serious political com-

PEOPLE and CAPACITIES programmes 

mitment to ensuring that its policies 

may  include  calls  targeted  to  SME 

In  addition,  FP7’s  COOPERATION, 

are  designed  to  provide  the  best 

R&D activities. 

environment and opportunities for 

SMEs to grow and flourish. And the 

For  more 

information  on  FP7 

Seventh  Research  Framework  Pro-

Programmes, please see: 

gramme  (FP7)  is  the  best  partner 

to  support  SMEs  in  creating  added 

http://ec.europa.eu/research/sme-

value  and  in  winning  new  market 

techweb/index_en.cfm

opportunities. 

http://cordis.europa.eu/

home_en.html

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KBBE AND SMES –  
A PRODUCTIVE AND 
PROFITABLE PARTNERSHIP

These  might  be  end-users  of  new 

technologies, such as breeding com-

panies and agricultural cooperatives 

WHERE CAN YOU FIND OUT 
MORE?

involved in the production, packag-

Obtaining  information  about  how  to 

The  FP7 

‘Food,  Agriculture  and 

ing or control of food or feed; tech-

participate 

in  EU-funded  projects 

Fisheries, 

and 

Biotechnology’  

nology providers such as engineering 

couldn’t be easier. There is a network 

Theme,  known  as  the  Knowledge-

and software companies; food com-

of National Contact Points, which pro-

Based  Bio-Economy  (KBBE),  imple-

panies;  and  technology-based  bio-

vides  help  and  advice  in  your  own 

ments research calls for all industries 

technology  companies 

such  as 

country and in your own language.

that  produce,  manage  or  otherwise 

agricultural or industrial biotechnol-

make  use  of  biological  resources  in-

ogy SMEs. 

cluding wastes. 

For information please see:  

http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/kbbe/

More 

information 

is  available  at:  

support_en.html

Specifically,  KBBE  calls,  from  2007  to 

http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/kbbe/

2013, will address research topics that 

home_en.html 

fall  into  its  three  major  ‘Activities’, 

which are focused on: 

WHAT’S IN IT FOR SMES?

SMEs 

are 

the  most 

capable 

organisations for turning research and 

knowledge 

into  new  commercial 

products, and they are at the heart of 

•  sustainable production and 

FP7 goes a stage further from previous 

the  EU’s  main  funding  programmes. 

management of biological 

Framework  Programmes  by  making 

Details  of  EU  policies,  programmes 

resources from land, forest and 

application  and  participation  even 

and  tools  for  SMEs  can  be  found  on 

aquatic environments  

simpler  for  SMEs. The  new  SME  rules 

many different websites. The EU portal 

(Activity 2.1); 

allow  funding  of  up  to  75%  of  total 

can guide you through:

• 

fork to farm: food (including 

costs  for  R&D,  and  for  management 

seafood), health and well-being 

and  training  activities  you  might  re-

• 

funding opportunities for SMEs;

(Activity 2.2); 

ceive up to 100% financial support. 

•  help and support services – both 

• 

life sciences, biotechnology and 

on-line and in your region;

biochemistry for sustainable 

EU research is a fair game: a ‘guaran-

•  how significant SMEs are for 

non-food products and processes 

tee fund’ has been set up to cover the 

Europe’s economy and for job 

(Activity 2.3). 

financial  risks  of  defaulting  project 

creation;

participants,  and  strong  intellectual 

•  how to take full advantage of the 

If your industry conducts research in-

property rules provide effective pro-

Single Market;

house  because  your  main  products 

tection  with  particular  attention  to 

•  how entrepreneurship is being 

or services rely on a constant applica-

the special needs of SMEs. 

encouraged in Europe;

tion of new knowledge, then you are 

• 

the range of policies the EU has 

among 

those 

research-intensive 

To improve access to debt financing, 

developed to help SMEs.

SMEs  that  the  Cooperation  pro-

the  Risk  Sharing  Finance  Facility 

gramme is seeking. 

(RSFF)  extends  the  ability  of  the 

The SME portal is now available in 21 

European  Investment  Bank  to  pro-

languages.

Indeed,  to  promote  SME  participa-

vide  loans  or  guarantees  to  compa-

tion  and  ensure  efficient  transfer  of 

nies  deemed  to  be  too  risky  under 

European portal for SMEs: 

knowledge and technology from the 

normal banking practice. 

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sme

R&D  system  to  the 

industry,  the 

‘Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and 

For 

information 

please 

see:  

Biotechnology’  Theme is on the look-

http://www.eib.org/products/loans/

out for such SME applicants. 

special/rsff/index.htm?lang=-en

SME Success Stories l 7

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8 l SME Success Stories

Keygene N.V.

AN INTERVIEW WITH ANKER P. SØRENSEN

Participation helps 
to expand your business

‘EU funding enabled us 
to do research that we 
were eager to do, but 
were not able to get 
financed by commercial 
partners’

WAGENINGEN, THE NETHERLANDS

The sustainability and security of European agricultural 

production is under threat from intensive production 

practices,  global  competition  and  climate  change. 

Agri-food  SMEs  are  competing  to  develop  state-of-

the-art technology to cope with these challenges. The 

Dutch  company  Keygene  reports  on  how  EU-funding 

has helped them to exploit new technologies, such as 

high-throughput  genotyping,  which  have  huge 

potential for the plant breeding industry.

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As the world population is expected 

and  Safety  topics  seemed  to  fit  exactly 

most valuable pay-off, particularly in 

to  rise  from  6.5  billion  people  to 

with  our  research  strategy  needs,  and 

business  terms. 

‘There  are  many 

around  9  billion  by  2040,  we  can  no 

consequently we decided to step in.’

advantages to belonging to a scientific 

longer  ignore  the  fact  that  we  need 

network:  it  allows  us  to  get  effective 

to grow more food and improve crop 

The FP6 topics were conceived to fos-

peer  reviews,  which 

is  particularly 

yields.  Research 

in  the  agro-food 

ter  the  knowledge-based  bio-econo-

important  for  the  evaluation  of  the 

sector  is  also  facing  other  big  issues 

my and therefore support those SMEs 

business that we try to sell and, last but 

such  as  climate  change  and  rising 

involved  in  developing  industrial  ap-

not least, it helps in building the image 

energy costs as well as better control 

plications  and  research  results  whose 

of  our  company,  which  impacts  on 

of  pests  and  plant  diseases.  As  a 

innovation capacity is often hampered 

acquiring  customers  for  our  business 

result, biotech R&D companies in the 

by  funding  constraints,  a  well  known 

research projects.’

area  are 

facing  growing  market 

issue  among  SMEs  as  Mr  Sørensen 

demand  from  the  seed  and  plants 

confirms: ‘EU funding enabled us to do 

Keygene  was  founded  in  1989  by  a 

industries  eager  to  catch  up  with 

research  that  we  were  eager  to  do,  but 

number of plant breeding companies 

these crucial issues. 

were  not  able  to  get  financed  by  com-

set up for the purposes of carrying out 

mercial  partners.  This  is  a  current  issue 

pre-competitive  research  in  the  field 

Considering  the  above,  there  is  no 

for us, and it is often related to the devel-

of  plant  biotechnology.   Although 

doubt 

that 

seed 

and 

plant 

opment of methods or applications that 

they  had  a  unique,  proactive  ap-

biotechnology  has  huge  business 

contain  high  risk  but  could  develop 

proach to research and business, their 

potential.  However, 

for  research-

breakthrough technologies.’

involvement  in  EU  research  demon-

performing  SMEs, 

the  agro-food 

strates how it can be relevant for any 

sector is a highly competitive market 

Thanks to EU funded research, within 

research-performing  SME  to  join  EU 

involving  global  actors  and  finance 

EU-SOL,  for  example,  Keygene,  to-

programmes  to  deal  with  research 

institutions  generally  reluctant  to 

gether  with  other  project  partners, 

needs  that  they  might  be  unable  to 

back up research activities considered 

contributes  to  the  development  of 

address on their own. 

as being too high a risk.

new varieties of tomatoes using new 

breeding strategies. These are based 

Today, 

the  company  holds  an 

‘The chain  of  genetic research through 

on marker-assisted breeding and ge-

impressive  record  of  participation 

plant  breeding  and  variety  develop-

netic  engineering  technologies  that 

within  seven  EU-funded  projects. 

ment,  plant  production,  distribution 

exclusively use natural plant genes to 

This  story  is  a  successful  example  of 

and  retail  sales,  is  really  long,’  says 

improve productivity, quality and ad-

how  rewarding  participation  can  be 

Anker Sørensen, manager for applied 

aptation. In BIOEXPLOIT, Keygene ap-

for  SME  business  development.  EU-

research at Keygene, a Dutch compa-

plies  its  expertise  in  the  genotyping 

SOL  and  BIOEXPLOIT  will  run  until 

ny  involved  in  two  Sixth  Framework 

technologies area to the exploitation 

2011,  but  by  then  we  expect  that 

Programme  (FP6)  projects,  EU-SOL 

of natural plant biodiversity for pesti-

Keygene  will  have  already  added 

and BIOEXPLOIT. ‘Being part of an EU-

cide free production of food. 

many other successful projects to its 

funded project has been a great help to 

EU research portfolio. 

us. To stay competitive, we have to iden-

Beyond  the  unique  opportunity  of 

tify and focus our research activities on 

being  part  of  EU  cutting-edge 

those  technologies  that  can,  in  a  cost-

research,  partners  such  as  academia 

effective timeframe, benefit plant varie-

and  prestigious  public 

research 

www.keygene.com

ty development and then implement its 

centres can positively affect the SMEs’ 

applications  on  an 

industrial  scale. 

business in many ways. Mr Sørensen 

www.bioexploit.net 

Luckily,  the  two  EU  FP6  Food  Quality 

stresses  that  relationships  are  the 

www.eu-sol.net

SME Success Stories l 9

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WAGENINGEN, THE NETHERLANDS

10 l SME Success Stories

Conesa - Conservas 
Vegetales de 
Extremadura SAU 

AN INTERVIEW WITH RAQUEL PEREZ GARCIA

Improving capacity 
building for food SMEs

‘We have the project to 
thank for giving 
us access to a scientific 
community that we have 
been working and inter-
acting with’

BADAJOZ, SPAIN

A high-tech lab, new learning opportunities and access 

to a scientific network with expert RTD (research and 

technological  development)  knowledge;  these  were 

some of the benefits that tomato producer Conservas 

Vegetales  de  Extremadura  found  when  it  joined  the 

LYCOCARD  project,  which  researched  whether  lyco-

pene in tomatoes can prevent serious health problems 

such as cardiovascular diseases.

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On a global scale, the annual produc-

in 

lycopene  and  other  bioactive 

opportunities  like  this,  because  they 

tion  of  fresh  tomatoes  amounts  to 

compounds  during  the  processing 

provide a window to the rest of the sci-

approximately 100 million tons. More 

steps of crushing, pre-heating, evap-

entific and business communities.’ 

than  a  quarter  of  those  100  million 

oration, dicing and drying. 

tons are grown for the processing in-

Indeed, the consortium partners, such 

dustry, which makes the tomato the 

Raquel  Perez  Garcia  of  Conservas 

as the Institute of Nutrition Friedrich-

world’s leading vegetable for process-

Vegetales  says  of  her  experience, 

Schiller-Universität in Germany, which 

ing. On the other hand, over-produc-

‘Thanks to our participating in this EU-

coordinated  the  project,  served  as 

tion  and  emerging  competitive 

funded  project,  we  now  have  several 

RTD  providers  for  the  benefit  of  the 

markets  are  among  the  key  issues 

lines  of  research  focused  on  some  as-

three  Lycocard  SMEs. The  acquisition 

facing the European tomato process-

pects related to lycopene, such as its ex-

of  new  knowledge  generated  from 

ing  industry  today,  along  with  the 

traction  from  tomato  by-products.  As 

such relationships has helped improve 

fact  that  most  European  food  SMEs 

there is an increasing demand for foods 

the SMEs’ competitiveness. 

are  not  research-intensive  and  pro-

with  specific  functionalities  that  im-

duction  methods  are  often  based 

prove  the  health  and  well-being  of 

For  the  future,  Conservas  Vegetales 

upon craft rather than technology. 

European consumers, we think that the 

wishes  to  continue  to  strengthen  its 

commercialisation  of  novel  products 

capacity  to  be  a  dynamic,  research-

Nevertheless, processed tomato prod-

with higher levels of lycopene could lead 

oriented food SME and conquer new 

ucts might have a bright new future. 

us to a more positive revenue growth.’

markets through combining creativi-

Recent  studies  have  highlighted 

ty, expertise and new technologies.

strong evidence that lycopene, a nat-

For  Conservas  Vegetales,  the  project 

ural pigment found in red fruits, could 

has also had the added bonus of im-

protect against cardiovascular diseas-

proving research facilities at the com-

es and some cancers. Investigating its 

pany. 

‘This  project  has  allowed  our 

role and how it actually affects human 

company  to  increase  support  to  R&D 

health is the primary objective of the 

activities,’ 

says 

Perez 

Garcia.  

EU-funded LYCOCARD project. The re-

‘It  has  provided  a  high-tech  lab  along 

search  consortium  involved  15  part-

with continuous learning opportunities 

ners 

from  6  countries 

including 

for our staff. We also have the project to 

universities, 2 patient organisations – 

thank for giving us access to a scientific 

NUTRIUNIT  ROME  and  the  German 

community that we have been working 

Heart  Foundation  –  and  3  European 

and  interacting  with.  This  would  have 

tomato processing SMEs acting as the 

been impossible otherwise.’

food  technologists  of  the  research 

consortium. 

The most important outcome for lo-

cal SMEs such as CONESA is the pos-

One  of 

the  SMEs 

involved 

in 

sibility  for  SMEs  to  work  in  a  wider 

LYCOCARD  is  Spanish-based  tomato 

field and interact with other compa-

processor  Conservas  Vegetales  de 

nies and important research centres, 

Extremadura,  which  makes  passata, 

as  Raquel  Perez  Garcia  points  out. 

tomato  puree,  canned  diced  toma-

‘This promotes intellectual and person-

toes  and  tomato  powder,  among 

al interchange while also creating eco-

www.e-conesa.com

other products. Its role in LYCOCARD 

nomic profits. For all these reasons it is 

is 

to 

observe 

the 

changes 

really a good idea to take advantage of 

www.lycocard.com

SME Success Stories l 11

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BADAJOZ, SPAIN

12 l SME Success Stories

Salumificio  
F.lli Spiezia SpA

AN INTERVIEW WITH FRANCESCA SCOGNAMIGLIO

EU supports traditional 
food SMEs to strengthen 
competitiveness

‘At the end of this 
project, thanks to EU 
research, we’ll be able to 
market a new range of 
salami products without 
nitrates and nitrites’

SAN VITALIANO, ITALY

An innovative food processing technique developed 

by an SME using ‘vegetable extracts’ as preservatives 

rather than nitrates and nitrites may help food SMEs 

move  into  the  thriving  new  area  of  novel,  natural-

based preserving agents , making their products both 

commercially successful and competitive.

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Salumificio  

F.lli Spiezia SpA

SAN VITALIANO, ITALY

Food additives play an important role 

old traditional recipes, their approach 

Spiezia with the competitive advan-

in  today’s  complex  food  supply. They 

to technology and processing food is 

tage they need to expand their busi-

are widely used to perform a variety of 

highly innovative. 

useful  functions  such  as  maintaining 

ness.  Scognamiglio  says,  ‘Although 

we are already selling our products in 

the  food  qualities  and  characteristics. 

Francesca  Scognamiglio,  the  quality 

Europe  and  America,  we  think  that 

However,  recent  food  crises  have  un-

control and assurance manager at the 

such a range of products will be a real 

dermined  people’s  confidence  in  in-

company,  says,  ‘Spiezia  is  in  constant 

commercial  success  as  consumer  de-

dustrial  production  systems  and  in 

contact with universities and research 

mand of more natural food is both vo-

chemical  additives  to  such  an  extent 

centres in order to support an exchange 

cal  and  energetic  worldwide.’  For 

that consumers have turned their pref-

of ideas and projects. From one of these 

many  European  SMEs,  continued 

erences towards foodstuffs processed 

meetings it was decided that we would 

success  and  robust  growth  is  linked 

in a more natural and environmentally 

participate  in  this  EU  project.  It’s  the 

to  competitiveness 

in  the  global 

friendly way. 

first  time  we  have  the  chance  to  take 

economy.  Research  is  an  integral 

part in an EU research project, and al-

part  of  this  process  and  EU-funded 

Following  the  2006  amendments  to 

though  it  is  demanding,  we  think  the 

projects offer SMEs a unique oppor-

Directive  95/2/EC  that  revised  and 

benefits make the effort worthwhile.’

tunity  to  build  success  and  develop 

harmonised  the  authorised  levels  of 

their full potential.

nitrates and nitrites in European meat 

One of the company’s main challeng-

products,  the  EU  funded  project 

es is keeping in touch with consum-

NOCHEMFOOD  investigates  the  po-

ers’ maturing and changing tastes. In 

tential use in the sausage industry of 

this  regard,  the  EU-funded  project 

natural preserving agents, consisting 

serves to strengthen F.lli Spiezia’s in-

of  a  mixture  of  active  molecules  ex-

novation capacity. ’We are always try-

tracted  from  vegetal  sources,  as  a 

ing to improve our products and follow 

substitute 

for  chemical  additives 

the  trends  of  the  market  which  essen-

commonly used in the industry. 

tially  reflect  consumer  demands,’  says 

Scognamiglio. ‘Therefore at the end of 

SME  participation 

is  central 

to 

this project, thanks to EU research, we’ll 

NOCHEMFOOD as the project coordi-

be able to market a new range of sala-

nator is itself an SME. BIOMA, a Swiss 

mi  products  without  nitrates  and  ni-

trading  company  whose  core  busi-

trites.’  For  the  future,  F.lli  Spiezia 

ness is the production and marketing 

considers  continual 

investment 

in 

of biotechnologies for the agro-food 

both research and technology strate-

sector,  as  well  as  two  cured-meat 

gic to their development. 

SMEs  have  been  asked  to  join  the 

project  ‘as  potential  end  user’  part-

Participation in an EU-funded project 

ners to test and validate the product 

is an excellent way of helping a com-

prototypes. 

pany to develop research it may not 

be  able  to  carry  out  otherwise,  giv-

One  of  them, 

is  Salumificio  F.lli 

ing it the opportunity to create  new 

Spiezia,  an  Italian  family  business 

products  for  a  changing  and  de-

founded in 1907. Even though today, 

manding  market.  The  innovation  in 

www.spiezia.it

in  respect  of  tradition,  the  business 

food  processing 

resulting 

from 

makes it a point of honour to use the 

NONCHEMFOOD  may  provide  F.lli 

www.nochemfood.eu

SME Success Stories l 13

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14 l SME Success Stories

Pittas Dairy  
Industries Ltd

AN INTERVIEW WITH ANDREAS HADJIPETROU

Local SME 
goes international

‘We joined because the 
project targeted food 
safety. It has been an 
extremely good 
experience for me and 
my company’

NICOSIA, CYPRUS

SMEs,  industrial  partners  and  research  centres  are 

working  together  to  eliminate  pathogens  from  the 

entire  food  chain.  By  doing  so,  they  will  help  to  in-

crease  the  competitiveness  of  food  SMEs  such  as 

Pittas  Dairies,  who  are  aware  that  constant  innova-

tion and improvement is necessary in a competitive, 

knowledge-based global food industry.

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Pittas Dairy  

Industries Ltd

NICOSIA, CYPRUS

Because  of  heat  treatments  such  as 

some of the important challenges that 

means 

combining  and 

sharing 

pasteurisation  and  a  better  under-

we currently face.’

standing of how pathogens are impli-

creativity  and  expertise  leading  to 

new  markets 

for 

the 

resulting 

cated in food-borne diseases, levels of 

It  all  began  when  the  Agricultural 

innovations. 

‘I 

think 

that 

the 

these  diseases  in  both  humans  and 

University  of  Athens  contacted  

successful applications of this project 

animals  have  dropped  dramatically 

Pittas 

about 

participating 

in 

will help us to be more competitive in 

over the decades. Nevertheless, path-

PathogenCombat.  ‘We  made  an  im-

the  face  of  increasing  globalisation’, 

ogen  levels  in  the  entire  food  chain 

mediate  decision  to  join  because  the 

Mr Hadjipetrou says. 

are 

still 

rising.  The  EU-funded 

project  targeted  food  safety  which  is 

PathogenCombat  project  is  taking  a 

obviously of great interest to us,’ says 

Indeed,  local  SMEs  such  as  Pittas 

holistic approach to new and emerg-

Andreas Hadjipetrou. ‘It has been an 

Dairies  look  at  community  research 

ing pathogens across the entire food 

extremely good experience for me and 

Framework Programmes as a unique 

chain.  Seventeen  SMEs,  3  industrial 

my company.’

partners and 24 research centres from 

source  of  funding  for  developing 

new  products  and  services  through 

17 countries have worked to substan-

The  company’s  role  in  the  project, 

innovation  and  investment  in  re-

tially revise and improve Europe’s food 

along  with  other  SMEs,  is  to  apply  

search. Mr Hadjipetrou stresses, ‘R&D 

safety control systems and strategies.

the 

results  of  previous 

research  

is vital for European SMEs. As the com-

topics, 

such 

as  developing 

a  

petition in the food industry is getting 

One  of  the  partners  involved  in  this 

predictive  model  for  the  shelf  life 

more  difficult  every  year,  EU  projects 

ambitious  project  is  Pittas  Dairies, 

of  yoghurt,  using  a  probiotic  strain 

make it easier for SMEs to access fund-

based in Cyprus. Pittas Dairies produc-

 in animal feed, developing new prod-

ing needed for the R&D activities.’

es  over  100  dairy  products  including 

ucts  with 

protective 

cultures,  

the  famous  Cypriot  halloumi  cheese 

and  assessing 

their  own 

food  

Pittas  Dairies  enjoyed  its  experience 

and many types of yoghurts. It has al-

safety  systems  against  international 

with PathogenCombat and is already 

ways  been  an  innovative  company 

standards.

and was the first Cypriot company to 

in  negotiations  to  begin  another  EU-

funded  project.  ‘I  would  certainly  ad-

use pasteurisation when it was found-

So  how  has  participation  in  an  EU-

vise SMEs to make any effort needed to 

ed  in  1939  by  two  brothers,  Andreas  

funded  project 

impacted  on  the 

participate  in  EU-funded  projects  that 

and Costas Pittas.

company’s business? Mr Hadjipetrou 

fit  into  their  overall  business  strategy,’ 

says, 

‘The  first  three  years  of  our 

says 

Andreas 

Hadjipetrou. 

Andreas  Hadjipetrou,  the  company’s 

participation in the project have been 

‘Globalisation  and  a  dynamic  knowl-

quality  manager,  believes  that  as 

extremely interesting and the final two 

edge-based economy require a constant 

competition in the food industry gets 

years  will  be  even  more  so,  since 

outlook to innovative ideas which could 

more  intense  every  year,  a  willing-

application  of  the  research  findings 

give local SMEs the competitive edge in 

ness  to  innovate  and  participate  in 

will  take  place  at  the  participating 

the  marketplace.  We  should  always 

EU-funded  projects  is  vital  for  com-

SMEs. We have had the chance to meet 

keep this in mind.’

panies to stay  competitive. ‘Today, in 

experts from the universities and other 

order  to  compete  at  an  international 

partners 

in 

the 

fields  of 

food 

level or even a national one, you have 

microbiology, 

food 

safety 

and 

to innovate,’ he says. ‘Consumer needs 

predictive  microbiology  and  discuss 

always  lead  R&D  requirements  in  the 

the  issues  of  food  production.’  The 

food  industry.  New  packaging  meth-

opportunity  for  local  food  SMEs  to 

www.pittas.com

ods,  improvement  of  raw  materials 

be involved in transnational research 

(and  new  product  development)  are 

projects  such  as  PathogenCombat 

www.pathogencombat.com

SME Success Stories l 15

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16 l SME Success Stories

Marinova ApS  
COPALIS (ctpp)

AN INTERVIEW WITH GRETA JAKOBSEN AND CHARLES DELANNOY

Partnership increases 
profitability

‘Because of 
SEAFOODplus we can 
now publicise our 
products in a more 
effective way’

HOEJMARK, DENMARK (MARINOVA) 
BOULOGNE, FRANCE (COPALIS)

The  SEAFOODplus  project  has  provided  a  scientific 

network,  access  to  the  latest  research  and  a  chance 

to offer hard scientific proof of the benefits of seafood 

products  in  the  diet,  giving  two  participating  SMEs 

the  chance  to  boost  their  competitiveness  in  the 

global market.

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Marinova ApS  

COPALIS (ctpp)

HOEJMARK, DENMARK (MARINOVA) 

BOULOGNE, FRANCE (COPALIS)

In a world of ever changing advice on 

transfer our many years of experience 

us and Marinova, many clinical studies 

what  constitutes  a  healthy  diet,  the 

with fish raw materials into innovative 

are  necessary  to  prove  the  quality  of 

one  constant  message  seems  to  be 

products  for  consumers,’  says  Mrs 

ingredients.  SEAFOODplus  gave  us  a 

that seafood is good for us. The ome-

Jakobsen.  ‘Because  of  SEAFOODplus 

chance  to  continue  with  our  research 

ga  3  fatty  acids  found  in  seafood  are 

we now can publicise our products in a 

by  funding  and  providing  us  with  a 

responsible  for  many  health  benefits 

more  effective  way.  We  can  make 

useful network where we had excellent 

including a reduced risk of cardiovas-

claims as they are backed up with solid 

interaction  with  other  companies  and 

cular  diseases,  a  reduction  in  high 

scientific evidence.’ 

scientific research institutes.’

blood pressure, and support of neuro-

logical  development  in  the  unborn 

During the project, Marinova worked 

‘I can definitely recommend participat-

child.  Vitamin  D  and  selenium,  also 

alongside  the  French  SME  Copalis. 

ing  in  an  EU-funded  project  to  other 

found  in  seafood,  are  linked  with  a 

‘Relations between us were very good,’ 

SMEs. We had an excellent working re-

lower risk of strokes and depression. 

says Greta Jakobsen. ‘There was a lot 

lationship  with  the  other  partners  in 

of  cooperation  and  respect  between 

the team and for us it was a very posi-

The  five-year  Integrated  Programme 

us. We tried to find where we could help 

tive experience.’

SEAFOODplus  had  the  objective  of 

each other.’ 

carrying  out  dietary  and  epidemio-

logical research to increase the health 

Created  in  1960,  Copalis  produces 

benefits  of  high  quality  seafood 

fish hydrolysed protein and fish meal. 

products.  It  is  an  international  net-

10  years  ago  it  branched  out  into 

work  of  70  partners  including  many 

producing  food  supplements  and 

scientific  and  research  institutions 

other  seafood-based  products  for 

from  16  countries.  Among  them  are 

the  neutraceuticals  and  cosmetics 

two EU SMEs: Marinova and Copalis.

industries. 

The  Danish  company  Marinova  was 

Charles  Delannoy,  technical  and  re-

formed in the late 1980s as part of a 

search manager at Copalis, says, ‘The 

research  project  of  the  Danish  Fish 

FP6 project gave us the opportunity to 

Processing Industries and Exporters. 

interact with other companies and in-

The  company  decided 

to 

join 

ternational  research 

institutes.  EU-

SEAFOODplus  to  help  it  access  the 

funded research has a good reputation 

latest  knowledge  and  technology. 

in the industry and SEAFOODplus was 

Greta  Jakobsen,  managing  director 

a  great  opportunity  for  us  to  develop 

of  Marinova,  thinks  SEAFOODplus 

research  for  high  quality  products.’ 

was  a  great  opportunity.  ‘We  would 

Current  challenges  for  Copalis  in-

never  have  developed  all  these  con-

clude isolation of peptides with bio-

tacts and we would never have gained 

logical activities, and the creation of 

the knowledge of all the new develop-

new products from marine resources 

ments in the field,’ she says. ‘To us the 

for the nutraceuticals market. But for 

scientific  network  has  been  as  impor-

a  company  working  alone,  research 

tant  as  the  funding.’  The  company’s 

costs  can  be  prohibitive.  ‘We  have 

www.marinova.dk 

most pressing current challenge is to 

been  spending  a  lot  of  money  on  re-

www.copalis.fr

use  biotechnology  to  create  new 

search  and  quality  efficiency,’  says 

types  of  products.  ‘We have to try to 

Charles Delannoy. ‘For companies like 

www.seafoodplus.org

SME Success Stories l 17

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18 l SME Success Stories

Traceall Ltd 

AN INTERVIEW WITH ALAN STEELE

Exchanging knowledge 
on a global scale

‘The knowledge  
exchange from working 
with our peers is 
invaluable’

GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM

Year-on-year, the frozen foods market grows by 10% 

and  reports  11  million  tons  of  food  consumed. 

However, despite the positive scenario, industry ac-

tors admit that each year 0.01% of chilled and frozen 

food  produced  cannot  be  consumed  because  stor-

age  integrity  is  compromised.  Tracking  company 

Traceall  is  supplying  data  to  the  CHILL-ON  project, 

which  is  researching  ways  to  create  an  integrated, 

cost-effective  and  efficient  way  of  monitoring  the 

EU’s  chilled  and  frozen  food  industry  in  order  to 

eliminate waste and ensure that goods are delivered 

in perfect condition.

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Europeans live in a fast-paced, super-

decided to get involved in CHILL-ON be-

continually improve our products, and 

charged 

society.  Double-income 

cause it’s a global project involving very 

our R&D, and this maintains our posi-

families,  single-parent  homes  and 

high-value companies,’ he says. ‘Also, its 

tion  in  a  competitive  market.  We  will 

extracurricular activities have put the 

main focus is the food industry which is 

continue with our research on this level 

pressure on people to seek shortcuts 

what  we  are  mainly  involved  with.  For 

for the foreseeable future.’

when it comes to preparing and eat-

us it ticked all the right boxes.’

ing  food. The  big  winner  here  is  the 

chilled  and  frozen  food  products 

The SME’s role in CHILL-ON is to col-

market: indeed, the European Union 

lect and present traceability data us-

is  the  second  largest  market  in  the 

ing GPRS (mobile phone) technology. 

world  for  chilled  and  frozen  food.  

The  data  is  then  disseminated  to 

project  partners  including  biochem-

The  task  for  EU  research 

is  to  

ists  and  geneticists  who  use  it  as  a 

develop  cost-effective  technologies 

tool in creating state-of-the-art tech-

and devices for continuous monitor-

nologies  for  the  frozen  and  chilled 

ing  and  recording  of  the  relevant 

food  distribution  chain.  ‘The  end  re-

data  throughout  the  entire  supply 

sult,’ says Alan Steele, ‘is that consum-

chain  in  an  effort  to  improve  the 

ers have the right information to make 

quality,  safety,  transparency  and 

a choice about what they eat and buy. 

traceability  of  the  chilled/frozen 

They  know  where  the  product  has 

food supply chain. 

come from, how it’s been treated; they 

know about its authenticity.’ 

The  four-year  CHILL-ON  Integrated 

Project  has  taken  on  this  challenge 

In  CHILL-ON,  Traceall 

is  working 

and  has  gathered  a  team  of  31  part-

alongside  global  companies.  Alan 

ners  from  13  countries  to  research 

Steele says, ‘The knowledge exchange 

ways  of 

improving  efficiency  and 

from working with our peers is invalu-

transparency in the entire frozen and 

able. There is a degree of openness in-

chilled food supply and delivery chain. 

volved in working with colleagues that 

CHILL-ON is focused on fish and poul-

you can’t achieve on a commercial ba-

try, two of the most sensitive areas in 

sis  because  there  the  emphasis  is  on 

this market. 

competitiveness.  In  the  project  every-

one is working towards the same aims 

As part of this project, Traceall, a UK 

through partnership.’

based company, provides web-based 

tracking  and  tracing  software  tech-

Traceall  has  been  involved  in  four 

nology  to  manufacturers  to  protect 

previous 

EU-funded 

projects 

their products from damage or theft 

(TraceFish,  TRINE,  SAMANTHA  and 

during transit. 

CEDAR).  ‘Thanks  to  our  participation 

in EU-funded projects we are now posi-

Alan  Steele,  managing  director  of 

tioned at the cutting edge of technolo-

Traceall,  thinks  being 

involved 

in 

gy  and  knowledge  transfer,’  says  Alan 

www.traceall.co.uk

CHILL-ON  is  a  great  way  for  an  SME  

Steele. ‘We have an ongoing commit-

to  get  global 

recognition. 

‘We  

ment  as  a  technology  company  to 

www.chill-on.com

SME Success Stories l 19

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GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM

 
 
204_L_E_design08_EN_T11_3dec2008.indd   20

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European Commission

EUR 23612 — KBBE - SME SUCCESS STORIES

Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities

2008 — 24 pp. — 17.6 x 25 cm

ISBN 

978-92-79-08706-6

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204_L_E_design08_EN_T11_3dec2008.indd   22

12/8/08   11:46:09 AM

How to obtain EU publications

Our priced publications are available from EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu), where you can place an order with 
the sales agent of your choice.

The Publications Office has a worldwide network of sales agents. You can obtain their contact details by sending a fax to 
(352) 29 29-42758.

204_L_E_design08_EN_T11_3dec2008.indd   23

12/8/08   11:46:09 AM

Small in size, big in scope: 
SMEs are the backbone 
of European industry

Small  and  medium-sized  enterprises 

(SMEs) with a high research focus are 

the  economic  powerhouse  behind 

scientifi c  and  technological  develop-

ments  in  the  ‘Food,  Agriculture  and 

Fisheries, and Biotechnology’ sectors. 

From  2007  to  2013,  FP7  projects  will 

give  SMEs  the  great  opportunity  of 

working  alongside  scientists  and  re-

searchers and gaining access to exper-

tise  and  cutting-edge  technologies 

and  equipment.  Aiming  at  promot-

ing and fostering SMEs’ participation 

in  EU-funded  projects,  this  brochure 

of  success  stories  concentrates  on 

past  FP6  ‘Food  Quality  and  Safety’ 

projects  to  give  concrete  exam-

ples  to  other  SME  entrepreneurs 

and  researchers  of  how  rewarding 

EU research is. 

K
I
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N
A
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2
3
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6
1
2
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E
N
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C

SME

SME

SME

SME

SME

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