On October 14–15, the HIGHFIVE project partners joined digital innovators from the European agri-food sector at Synergy Days 2024, the most significant agri-food conference held in the vibrant city of Barcelona, Spain. This event provided the perfect opportunity not only to connect with the community and exchange ideas but also to showcase our work, share success stories, and highlight the impact we’ve achieved so far.

This year, Synergy Days became a platform to celebrate and spotlight European research projects revolutionizing the agri-food sector. For HIGHFIVE, which is committed to driving innovation and meaningful change in the industry, it was an excellent opportunity to demonstrate our efforts in supporting SMEs. The event created numerous networking opportunities, expanding our stakeholder network and fostering collaboration across the sector. These connections are vital as we aim to scale the project and ensure its benefits are felt across Europe.

During the event, we engaged with the community, debated key topics, and shared knowledge through project pitches, where we presented our vision, goals, and achievements in digitizing the agri-food sector. Together with our partners SS4AF and Food-scalEUp, we also organized two workshops: "Digital Transformation in Food Processing: The HIGHFIVE Approach to Support SMEs" and "Supporting Start-ups and Scale-ups in Food Processing."

Synergy Days facilitated the exchange of ideas between various projects and initiatives, uncovering synergies and opportunities for deeper collaboration. At the HIGHFIVE project stand, we engaged in many personal interactions and showcased success stories, including impactful cases from BENCO Baltic Engineering Company and Birštonas Mineral Waters. These examples demonstrated how we are introducing advanced technologies to the agri-food sector. This exchange of ideas plays a pivotal role in fostering ongoing innovation and progress, enabling us to address current challenges while preparing for future ones.

“HIGHFIVE has significantly empowered agri-food SMEs by driving both their digital and green transformation efforts. The project has been instrumental in overcoming implementation barriers to cutting-edge technologies, which are crucial for improving food safety, quality, and sustainability. At Synergy Days, we showcased the latest interregional investment projects, inspiring collaboration toward the twin transition in food processing. Supporting SMEs is central to HIGHFIVE and aligns with the S3 partnership SS4AF. Through SS4AF, HIGHFIVE’s insights will be disseminated, ensuring lasting impact and contributing vital building blocks for future projects and activities,” shared Veerle De Graef, Programme Manager at Flanders’ FOOD, before the event.