R&I Stages:

The Innovate3X (I3X) challenge invites research and innovation talent within the SMAR3TS project to contribute to the design, integration and piloting of sustainable food-system solutions through secondments at LUT University in Kouvola, Finland.

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To address this I3X challenge, future secondees could work on system analysis, pilot design, stakeholder coordination and scalability of resilient food-system innovations.

This I3X is Looking for Skills and Capabilities across Disciplines for:

• Food systems and nutrition science, including understanding of how food production, processing and consumption influence health, sustainability and resilience

• Food technology and bioprocessing, including fermentation, protein extraction, ingredient formulation and safety

• Bioeconomy and biomass utilization, particularly the valorization of forestry and food-industry side-streams

• Sustainable materials and packaging, including bio-based, biodegradable and circular food-contact materials

• Logistics and supply-chain design, especially for regional, low-carbon and crisis-resilient food systems

• Digital tools and data, including traceability, forecasting, digital twins and platform development

• Sustainability assessment, such as life-cycle analysis, carbon and resource footprinting, and impact evaluation

• Business models and market development, including scaling, investment readiness and value-chain coordination

• Policy and regulatory understanding, especially related to food safety, circular economy and climate adaptation

• Stakeholder engagement and ecosystem building, working with industry, municipalities, SMEs, civil society and research partners

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Important:

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• SMAR3TS Secondments are open only to SMAR3TS Consortium Partners. 

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• Secondments aligned to any I3X can be undertaken at either the Initiating Parter premises and/or other SMAR3TS Consortium Partner premises. 

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• Regardless of where you are undertaking work on an I3X, you are obligated to ensure the aligned I3X Initiator Project Contact, Lead / Responsible aligned Work Package Leader, as well as the SMAR3TS Project Management Team are kept fully up-to-date with the progress of your contribution to your secondment aligned I3X - Refer to the detailed information 'About Secondments - What are Secondments'.​​

Examples of Challenges that Need to be Addressed

Challenges can be related e.g., to market and business model, technology adoption, sustainability assessment, regulation, policy, technologies, data availability, methods & analysis, technical or methodological gaps, ecosystem building or community development, societal & cultural acceptance of innovations, impact, etc.

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Key challenges include:

• High vulnerability of food systems to climate and energy shocks: Extreme weather, energy disruptions and geopolitical risks threaten food availability and affordability.

• Fragmented farm-to-fork value chains: Production, processing, packaging, logistics and waste management are poorly integrated, limiting system-level efficiency and resilience.

• Energy-intensive food systems: Food production, processing and logistics remain heavily dependent on fossil energy, increasing costs and emissions. Processing to use resilient, underutilized, low-impact raw materials. Usually, the highest environmental impacts come from the agricultural sector, and this is linked to the nature of the raw materials.

• Food loss, waste and underutilized side-streams: Large volumes of food and bio-based resources are lost due to inefficient collection, processing and valorization.

• Dependence on long and fragile supply chains: Regional food systems rely heavily on global imports and just-in-time logistics.

• Regulatory and market barriers: Sustainable food innovations face complex approval processes and unclear pathways to scale.

• Limited coordination and data: Lack of shared data, digital tools and coordinated governance hinders resilience planning and crisis preparedness.