The HIGHFIVE project supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agri-food sector to adopt digital and automation solutions, helping them move from innovation to investment-ready implementation. By combining experimentation, large-scale deployment and targeted support, the project contributes to strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of European food systems.
Impact at a glance
- 4 investment projects
- 5 implementation projects
- 16 innovation projects funded through cascade funding (total €1.4M of EU Funding)
A concrete example: robotics in food production
HIGHFIVE demonstrates its impact through practical applications in industrial settings. In one case, a bakery implemented a mobile robotic solution to support production processes. Initially introduced as a pilot, the technology was integrated into daily operations, enabling the company to increase production capacity while maintaining the same workforce and working hours .
The company continued to identify new use cases after deployment, illustrating how innovation evolves beyond initial implementation.
Engaging SMEs through targeted support
HIGHFIVE also supports SMEs at earlier stages through cascade funding mechanisms. With strong demand for participation, the project funded 16 smaller-scale innovation projects, enabling companies to test solutions, build capabilities and prepare for future investments .
For many SMEs, this represents a first step into European collaboration, helping them gain experience and confidence in adopting new technologies.
Strengthening innovation ecosystems
Beyond individual projects, HIGHFIVE contributes to building stronger innovation ecosystems by promoting the concept of Smart Food factory.
A Smart Food Factory is not defined by the technologies it uses, but by its ability to combine digital tools, expertise and collaboration to make better decisions. Whether through artificial intelligence, robotics, data analytics or automation, technology becomes a means to improve efficiency, sustainability and competitiveness rather than an objective in itself.
This concept is built on collaboration between food companies, technology providers, research organisations, clusters and regional innovation actors. Cluster organisations, in particular, play a key role in this process by supporting SMEs in navigating innovation, facilitating partenrships and providing practical guidance.
Building innovation-ready ecosystems
HIGHFIVE illustrates how interregional cooperation can support key EU policy priorities. The project contributes to the adoption of digital and advanced technologies by SMEs and helps build investment-ready innovation pipelines.
The project also highlights that SMEs need more than funding alone. Accessible testing environments, practical support and trusted intermediaries are essential to accelerate innovation uptake.
Through HIGHFIVE, SMEs were able to experiment with solutions such as mobile robots for food production, AI-based demand forecasting tools and computer-vision systems for automated quality control. These technologies were tested in real industrial environments, allowing companies to assess their performance, validate their business value and make more informed investment decisions.
By combining cascade funding, cluster support and real-life industrial validation, HIGHFIVE helps reduce barriers to innovation and supports companies in moving from experimentation to investment.
Its approach reflects several key enablers for innovation identified through the project:
- promoting test-before-invest environments and living labs
- simplifying SME access through lighter administrative requirements and standardised processes
- supporting clusters as long-term innovation intermediaries
- enabling scale-up through blended finance and targeted investment support
These elements help accelerate technology adoption and support the replication of solutions across regions, in line with the objectives of the I3 Instrument and broader EU priorities on competitiveness and cohesion.
Looking ahead
HIGHFIVE demonstrates that structured pathways, practical testing environments and intermediary organisation support can play an important role in helping SMEs translate innovation ideas into concrete investment opportunities.
By connecting technology with industrial application, the project contributes to making Europe’s agri-food sector more competitive, resilient and future-proof.
