X_AgriTech begins a new phase to strengthen agri-food innovation transfer

X_AgriTech has entered a new phase after renewing its status as a benchmark network in agri-food innovation and technology, with the aim of strengthening the transfer and valorisation of knowledge to the productive sector. In this new stage, the network expands from 8 to 11 member entities and from 34 to 66 research groups, consolidating its capacity to generate and transfer technological solutions in key areas such as sustainable agronomy, livestock, biotechnology, bioeconomy and digitalisation.

This growth responds to the need to accelerate the uptake of innovation in the agri-food sector, in a context where competitiveness is increasingly linked to the ability to incorporate technology and knowledge. The new phase was presented during a meeting that brought together researchers, companies and innovation ecosystem stakeholders, with the aim of reinforcing the network’s role as a connection point between research, industry and public administration.

Stronger connection with the productive sector

One of the main developments in this new phase is the creation of a business committee, designed to strengthen the involvement of the productive sector in the network’s activity. This structure aims to facilitate better alignment between research and the real needs of companies, as well as to help identify key sector challenges and guide research lines towards solutions with practical application.

The objective is to move towards more effective knowledge transfer, ensuring that research results are not only generated but also implemented within the business fabric. In this regard, the participation of companies and innovation ecosystem stakeholders provides a more applied perspective, helping ensure that the technologies developed respond to real demands and have a clear pathway to market.

Xavier Sala i Martín during his presentation on the knowledge economy and the transfer of innovation in the agri-food sector (source: IRTA, CC BY 4.0)

Boosting valorisation and applied innovation

The new phase of X_AgriTech is supported by a transfer and valorisation plan aimed at increasing the impact of technologies developed by research groups. Among the main lines of action are external support services for valorisation, intended to facilitate the maturation of scientific results and their conversion into solutions applicable to the sector.

The plan also includes the development of innovation infrastructures such as living labs, conceived as spaces to validate technologies under near-real conditions, as well as the creation of networks of digital farms. These tools allow testing solutions in real environments, improving decision-making through data use and advancing the adoption of technologies by sector operators.

In addition, these initiatives are complemented by the strengthening of the network’s international projection, through the creation of new partnerships and increased visibility within the agri-food ecosystem, with the aim of positioning X_AgriTech as a benchmark in agritech innovation in southern Europe.

Coordinated by IRTA, the network acts as a link between universities, research centres and companies, facilitating the evolution of scientific results towards higher levels of technological maturity. Since its creation in 2023, it has developed a model focused on applied innovation, based on collaboration between stakeholders and on adapting transfer tools to the needs of the sector.

In this context, X_AgriTech works across areas ranging from sustainable agronomy and livestock to genetic improvement, resource management, energy and artificial intelligence applied to the agri-food sector. Its approach aims not only to generate knowledge, but also to ensure that it has a real impact on the territory, contributing to the transition towards a more efficient, digital and sustainable system.

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