The Medway Food Innovation Centre (MFIC) is focused on strengthening the UK food and drink industries through cutting-edge research and transformative innovation.
With state-of-the-art technical infrastructure and business support tools, MFIC aims to ensure the competitive advantage of the UK food and drink sector by providing advanced capabilities in alternative proteins, novel processing, flavour technology, new product development (NPDs) and sustainable packaging.
With leading expertise in food processing, plant based food, algae biotechnology, food engineering, food microstructure, food safety, nutrition science, packaging and fresh produce storage, MFIC will provide highly skilled technical support and future-fit R&D capabilities. Based at the University of Greenwich in Medway, Kent, the new Centre will:
- undertake advanced food research
- facilitate technology development
- provide prototyping facilities for NPD
- deliver contract research services
- develop industry-focused trainings
MFIC will also be home to the Medway Food Accelerator offering business innovation support.
Our Vision
MFIC provides food industries with the first port of call to help with the research needs/technical issues across food processes, products and packaging. Our innovation centre can help businesses to develop future-fit NPDs in plant and algae-based foods, healthy re-formulations by reducing sugar, salt and saturated fat, optimise food processing including technical feasibility assessment, analyse flavour and sensory, as well as advise on consumer insights, food safety, fresh produce storage etc.
This centre will also train student cohorts and the local underprivileged community to develop industry-focused skills and technical know-how for better employability and thereby promoting inclusive economic growth. Thus, through MFIC, the University of Greenwich contributes to the UK food systems unlock by supporting sustainable innovation and improved public health.
MFIC will create a vibrant food innovation ecosystem in the region within the Growing Kent and Medway cluster where existing businesses should thrive as well as new food start-ups can grow via a supportive entrepreneurial environment of food accelerator space.
Our Objective
This centre can deliver purpose-led research and transformative innovation in the following areas:
- Alternative protein-based food
- Sustainable food processing
- Advanced flavour & sensory analyses
- Healthy re-formulation (adhere to HFSS compliance) at taste parity
- Nutritional optimization & food safety
- Sustainable packaging & storage
