Lab2Business: economic valorization of knowledge to the agro-food sector

The Agrifood Sector is a relevant area of the European and national economy, having undergone considerable evolution in the last years, adapting products to the taste of the consumers while trying to process them in a healthier way and presenting innovative characteristics in order to make them more competitive. Lab2Business is a project that aims to strengthen the transfer of knowledge and technology to the agro-food business sector, thus promoting value creation. The project includes integrated actions from research to innovation: 1. Content production; 2. Promotion at national level; Promotion at international level; 4. Knowledge valorization activities based in a pre-acceleration program of knowledge-based business ideas contributing to the readiness of people and knowledge (business projects) in relation to the market, whether for entrepreneurship opportunities, or for business development. Lab2business project allowed us: to expose R&I capacities trough different means like video interviews with researchers (200 videos) or the portfolio of knowledge (200 entries); to support our participation in national and international networks; and to implement the BIOTECH_agrifood Innovation Program where 30 participants from different Universities developed 12 business projects presented to an ecosystem involving companies, business mentors and investors in early stage projects. An investment in 12 patents took place, looking forward to raise business awareness. Lab2business promoted the knowledge transfer across the agro-food sector and foster the matching between research and innovation.