As a research and demonstration platform for digital transformation in food technology, the Future Food Factory OWL at the Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences opened its doors to regional stakeholders ranging from producers and processors to the catering industry, local government and tourism.
The focus was on implementing ideas from the previous REGIOtalk in February 2025 – with the aim of realising concrete projects for the region. Dorothea Streich from the Lippe District Regional Marketing Coordination Office and Wiebke Brinkmann-Roitsch from the Regional Movement NRW e.V. regional association led the evening.
Rounded off by keynote speeches on opportunities and possibilities in the further development of the regional movement and on the development of RegionalMarktOWL, a digital platform with an innovative logistics solution, the workshop provided a practical framework for the next implementation step.
Interactive theme tables were then used to discuss opportunities for collaboration in the areas of financing and funding, regional networks and initiatives, and innovation and technology.
The Innovation and Technology theme table was moderated by Nele Jantz from Future Food Factory OWL. Various projects and approaches from our current research were presented. Philip Sehr and Natalia Moriz from inIT presented the Digital Product Passport, a project of our smartFoodTechnology partnership. Justin Debrassine from ILT.NRW then presented the initial results of the Eco-Ready project @ESAPPIN, and Prof. Dr. Martina Sokolowsky introduced Campus Foundery OWL and explained current food trends.
A lively discussion quickly arose about opportunities for cooperation and the potential of the research work for regional stakeholders.
We look forward to supporting workshops and formats of this kind in the future: only by working together can we maintain a vibrant and sustainable food industry in East Westphalia-Lippe.
