Organisations and People

We bring together and coordinate the work of 26 public and private organisations, leaders in scientific research and sustainable innovation of food systems.

The programme involves around 600 people, including professors, researchers, executives and employees from leading companies in the Italian agri-food sector. This group includes 129 newly recruited researchers, as well as 200 PhD students and post-doctoral scholars.

The partnership is included in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), prepared by the Italian Government as part of the Next Generation EU programme.

Young talents at OnFoods

OnFoods bridges scientific research and the food industry through an interdisciplinary and collaborative framework.

The programme is led by 61 PhD-holding staff members who obtained their degrees within the past decade. It has recruited 129 RTDAs, Postdocs and PhD candidates, who operate within an interdisciplinary research environment that promotes international mobility and collaboration across academic and non-academic sectors.

The Mentorship Programme represented a dedicated capacity-building initiative within OnFoods.

Gender Equality at OnFoods

OnFoods prioritises gender equality across its research activities, from recruitment to decision-making and implementation.

Measures are in place to support female candidates, including recruitment targets and gender diversity hiring practices. A Gender Committee ensures balanced representation within decision-making bodies and addresses gender-related matters. Research and innovation activities integrate the gender dimension and comply with the principles of equality and non-discrimination in accordance with EU directives.

Cascade Funding

Cascade Funding strengthens OnFoods’ innovation pipeline by supporting SME-driven projects that accelerate technology transfer and market-ready solutions.

Designed to expand participation through public–private consortia, the initiative supports research and innovation projects with strong SME involvement. By co-funding activities focused on technology transfer and industrial validation, it reinforces territorial impact, promotes value-chain collaboration and facilitates the development of applicable solutions.