OFELIA
Boosting interregional value chains on functiOnal Foods and mEdicinaL and aromatIc plAnts via digital transformation
OFELIA aims to empower less developed regions (LDRs) across Europe by driving digital transformation and fostering interregional collaboration. Focused on the functional foods and medicinal and aromatic plants (FFMAP) value chains, OFELIA enhances traceability, optimises production, and accelerates innovation diffusion and knowledge transfer. Through targeted interventions, including piloting advanced digital tools, providing Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), and offering tailored training programs, OFELIA will assist SMEs to scale up and integrate into competitive markets. The OFELIA Hub, a one-stop digital platform, will connect stakeholders, facilitate commercialisation, and support the creation of new value chains. Aligned with the EU’s digital and green transitions, OFELIA addresses critical bottlenecks, promotes sustainability, and fosters inclusive growth. The project will deliver holistic improvements, cross-sectoral innovation, and regional cohesion, ultimately bridging the gap between research, market demands, and sustainable production for long-term economic growth and competitiveness.
| Funding program | Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument |
|---|---|
| Call | I3-2024-INV2a |
| GA No. | 101228430 |
| Duration | 2025 - 2028 |
| EC Funding | € 4,965,113.63 |
| Website | ofeliahub.eu |
| # Sectors | bioeconomy, foodtechnology, foodtraceability, sustainability |
Open Innovation for Functional Foods
and Medicinal Aromatic Plants
- 32 SMEs receiving financial support for prototyping, testing, and market entry
- 16 innovative projects are funded through the Open Call, leveraging a €960,000.00 budget
- 4 mature Business Investment Cases (BICs) deployed in Less Developed Regions (LDRs)
- ≥36 SMEs adopting digital solutions for improved production and traceability
- ≥3 new interregional value chains established
- ≥15 regions represented in total within the developed value chains
- 19 digital solutions aggregated and catalogued within the OFELIA Hub, a central digital platform tailored for FFMAP stakeholders
- ≥50 cross-regional matches facilitated (user-to-user or user-to-solution) through the OFELIA Hub
- 450 stakeholders trained through innovation diffusion sessions
- ≥10 policy recommendations delivered to support digital and regional innovation
reframe.food being leader of WP4 Financial Support for Innovators, is responsible for the launch of an OC providing Financial Support to Third Parties (total budget of 960k €) as a mechanism to engage SMEs to i) accelerate digital transformation in the sectors of Functional Foods and Medicinal Aromatic Plants (FFMAP), ii) strengthen regional value chains through collaboration between technology providers and FFMAP stakeholders and iii) promote sustainable, scalable digital solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and ensure long-term resilience. The call will be published on the OFELIA Hub and EU Funding and Tenders portal, promoted through various channels and networks. reframe.food will also be responsible for the technical monitoring of the OC sub-projects, ensuring proper implementation and alignment with OFELIA’s objectives.