Smart Food trend in Wrocław – we are becoming more mindful eaters with each passing year.
Anna BEDNARSKA
The Smart Food trend is becoming popular in Wrocław, particularly in the innovative Wrocław Technology Park (WPT). It is home to many companies and start-ups working at the intersection of science and food technology, driving the development of novel solutions in the industry. Offering specialised facilities, infrastructure and support, WPT is recognised as one of Poland’s most important innovation support centres, specifically focused on food-related research and technology development.
Wrocław Technology Park and its role in the Smart Food development
WPT, a leader in innovation support, provides laboratories, incubators and experimental facilities that enable companies to work on new technologies and products. The Park offers the essential infrastructure for food research and development (R&D), including laboratories and an Experimental Plant with process lines for turning ideas into products. Thanks to state-of-the-art facilities, entrepreneurs can not only test their novel ideas but also scale them up for industrial production.
Laboratories and the Experimental Plant
The laboratories at WPT enable advanced R&D of new food products, particularly in the Smart Food sector. Functional foods, protein alternatives and other forms of modern food can be developed here. Companies that use the WPT infrastructure have access to a comprehensive range of research facilities and the chance to test new products on process lines, which greatly aids the upscaling process, i.e. the transition from laboratory scale to industrial production.
Start-up support
The Wrocław Technology Park offers acceleration and incubation programmes to back Smart Food start-ups. Businesses can rely on comprehensive assistance, including advice, funding and access to an extensive network. This leads to a higher likelihood of successful product launches for innovative products and enables young companies to swiftly develop their ideas.
Cooperation with universities and research institutes
The WPT’s success is greatly attributed to its collaboration with the city’s universities, including the Wrocław University of Science and Technology and the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences. This partnership promotes the exchange of knowledge between scientists and entrepreneurs, leading to the rapid advancement of modern food technologies. In the field of Smart Food, having strong scientific backing is crucial due to the ever-changing technologies that rely on solid research.
WPT’s Experimental Plant
The Experimental Plant at the Wrocław Technology Park plays a key role in the testing and development of new food products. Its modern infrastructure enables companies to experiment with various recipes, production methods and technologies. They can test prototypes in conditions similar to real industrial processes, which helps them to optimise production methods and formulas before bringing their products to the market.
The plant also accommodates low-volume production, which is perfect for start-ups looking to release their innovative products in limited quantities before committing to mass production. Testing new processing technologies, such as drying, fermentation or vacuum packaging, allows the creation of increasingly sophisticated products in line with the Smart Food concept.
Sustainable production methods
The Experimental Plant puts great emphasis on sustainable production. Methods are being developed to decrease natural resource consumption and waste generation. Such an approach is crucial in the context of Smart Food, which needs to be not only healthy and convenient but also eco-friendly. Companies operating at the plant are able to develop products that respond to today’s climate challenges.
Examples of Smart Food projects in Wrocław
Wrocław is emerging as a frontrunner in the advancement of innovative food products, as is evident in the plant-based meat alternatives being developed by local start-ups. With the backing of WPT, companies can create their advanced products with a focus on mass production, ensuring they are healthy, delicious, and eco-friendly.
Functional foods with added probiotics and prebiotics are another example of innovative solutions. Consumers are increasingly interested in products that promote intestinal health, making it one of the research priorities at WPT.
Smart Food trends for 2024
In 2024, Smart Food is becoming more than just a trend. It is a response to the needs of contemporary consumers who are looking for convenient, healthy and sustainable food solutions. Smart Food offers more than classic ready meals or protein drinks – it combines health, taste and convenience with care for the environment.
Smart Food also aims to provide innovative, socio-technological solutions for food production and consumption. Involving local communities in food production and encouraging changes in household behaviour is crucial to improving health, reducing emissions, saving energy and fostering inclusivity and environmental awareness.
WPT as Smart Food innovation leader
The Wrocław Technology Park is crucial in advancing the Smart Food trend in Poland through its infrastructure, start-up support and collaboration with universities and research institutes. It is a place where the future of ideas can be brought to fruition and cutting-edge food technologies can be introduced to the market.
The WPT is not just a space for experimentation – it is an innovation hub where companies can develop solutions that meet the needs of the modern consumer and the challenges of sustainability. Smart Food is the future, and we are part of it.
