Welcome to SS4AF

In the ever-evolving landscape of the European agri-food industry, its role as a driving force in economic, environmental, and societal transitions is undeniable. To ensure its sustained prosperity, the industry must spearhead both digital and green transformations.

The Green Deal and Digital Transformation

The Green Deal, a transformative initiative by the European Commission, places sustainable food systems at its core through the farm-to-fork strategy. This strategy's success relies on implementing digital solutions and harnessing smart data usage across the agri-food value chain and the broader food system. In simpler terms, the Green Deal and Digitalization are intertwined, demanding the agri–food sector in Europe to simultaneously embrace digitalization as key enabling technology for eco-friendly practices.

Industry 5.0: A New Paradigm

Industry 5.0 envisions an industry beyond efficiency and productivity, emphasizing societal well-being, sustainable technologies, and planetary respect. This concept builds upon 'Industry 4.0' by prioritizing research and innovation, steering European industry towards sustainability and resilience. Industry 5.0 empowers workers, addresses skill needs, boosts industry competitiveness, and attracts top talent. Its circular models and resource-efficient technologies align with environmental preservation. Moreover, it enhances industry resilience against disruptions like the COVID-19 crisis.

Our Thematic Smart Specialisation Partnership (S3P)

Our Thematic Smart Specialisation Partnership (S3P) aims to foster a symbiotic ecosystem between agri-food and technology clusters, digital solution providers, research institutions (RTOs), and stakeholders. This ecosystem accelerates digital innovation within food processing companies, enhancing sustainability and resilience. By tackling specific challenges faced by these companies, tailored digital solutions are developed and implemented. This initiative propels the agri-food industry's digital transformation for greater sustainability and resilience throughout Europe. The effort dovetails with Smart Specialisation Strategies by establishing interconnected Living Labs across the EU. It also spurs interregional investment projects and robust European value chains.

Core Objectives of Smart Sensors 4 Agri-food

Establishing a platform connecting agri-food clusters with technology and digital solution providers, RTOs, and stakeholders, simplifying access to approved cutting-edge digitalization technologies.
Creating a network of Living Labs, serving as hubs for demonstrating, testing, and organizing training sessions, workshops, and demonstrations linked to Industry 5.0 technologies for agri-food companies.
Fostering a trust zone through collaboration between clusters and RTOs, facilitating expertise exchange, and accelerating the integration of Industry 5.0 technologies across the broader agri-food industry landscape.

Find out more

Deepdive into our strategy and discover our 5 step model for cross-regional innovation!

Support all the agri-food companies to ensure thay make the leap towards Industry 5.0 so that the agri-food sector evolves into an interconnected, resilient and smart agri-food system in Europe. To achieve this, we have established a “digital innovation eco-system” across Europe that supports agri-food industry on their digital transformation journey by facilitating development and access to applicable solutions. These solutions will boost the sector towards a more resilience with sustainable products and productivity.

The Thematic Smart Specialisation Partnership 'Smart Sensors 4 Agri-food' builds on the expertise of 40+ partners (clusters and research centres) from 17 regions dedicated to support the digital transformation of the agri-food industry. By connecting competences across European regions, the partners as well as their members and stakeholders will benefit from shared knowledge with the aim to accelerate the adoption and transformation towards a digital agri-food system and in doing so foster the evolution of the agri-food sector into an interconnected, sustainable, resilient, and smart agri-food system in Europe.