Digital technologies, data science and artificial intelligence is an area of increasing interest. The unique selling point for the proposed INSPIRE programme relates to the position of the consortium on the UK, EU and global stage on research, knowledge and expertise in food security, food systems and digital technologies. In particular, the lead partner, QUB’s Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technologies has world leading expertise and reputation in secure connected intelligence, coupled with the internationally renowned expertise in food integrity through the Institute of Global Food Security. This is expected to be a key selling point of the programme, particularly as we aim to deliver a 3-day face-to-face make-a-thon event in QUB. The EIT Food label and partner contributions will strengthen the course offering even further. This will be complemented with expert speakers and rising food stars from within the EIT Food network.

This is not a niche market as digital technologies are now in the food chain and related value streams, but demand is expected to increase further as it is clear the current agri-food workforce presents a low skill level in comparison to the digital solutions available. The consortium also has state-of-the art facilities within their own organisations, coupled with complementary stakeholder networks who can provide value-added activities, industry speakers, facilities and access to our target cohort to ensure in-depth and professional content and delivery of the course.

The proposed Inspire course is also aligned with The Deep Tech Initiative, as part of the European’s Innovation Agenda and will help to support the ambition to train one million people in deep tech between 2023 and 2025.

What will you achieve? :

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Understand the challenges in the food system
• Explore and critically assess the different digital technologies which can transform the food sector
• Translate innovations into feasible business solutions for the agri-food
• Think beyond boundaries, and systematically explore and generate new ideas, responding to current and future challenges within the food