Research, development and innovation company VTT has partnered with the University of Helsinki and Valio to launch an accelerator in Finland for food industry start-ups.

The programme forms part of the EIT Food Accelerator Network (FAN), a European network of six accelerators, which aims to promote a sustainable food system.

Through this accelerator, VTT seeks to bring together food production start-ups and industry veterans.

Experienced professionals from food research, production and marketing will coach start-up teams. The experts can benefit from familiarising themselves with the world of start-ups.

VTT co-creation manager Mirva Lampinen said that the company expects the accelerator to consolidate the network of food industry companies. This will contribute to the success of Finnish companies on the global market and attract foreign start-ups and investments to the country.

The partnership of VTT, the University of Helsinki and Valio will allow the new accelerator to cover all areas of a sustainable food system.

Start-up teams can take advantage of VTT’s expertise in plant-based protein and fibre, Valio’s product commercialisation and dairy products expertise, and the University of Helsinki’s agricultural and nutrition research.

The European EIT Food research networks coordinates and majority funds EIT FAN. It also has accelerators in Munich, Haifa, Lausanne, Cambridge and Bilbao. European start-up teams can apply for any of them.

The application process for this year will end on 10 March. Participants selected by a panel of experts will start a four-month acceleration project.

Teams will compete for the best innovations at the end of the year.