Following a series of consultation workshops in which the research needs and barriers to innovation of traditional food SMEs, it was very apparent that, unless an SME was encountering a very specific technological problem, little thought was given to research needs. Indeed, while most wished to expand their businesses and engage in product innovation, the barriers could be listed as:

• Lack of time for adequate innovation;
• Difficulties of access to finance for innovation;
• The unsuitable size and cost of new processing equipment for delivering product innovations;
• Problems in creating adequate distribution networks;
• The problem of innovation awareness

It quickly became apparent that the needs were as much in the human and organisational sciences as in the technological and physical sciences. Indeed, from other Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas such as that of the European Technology Platform Food for Life, it can seen that the problem of innovation awareness is one of the most critical. Many SMEs do not have the scientific resources to readily access novel technological developments and even where this is not the case, they are too burdened with day-to-day management issues in their enterprises to devote sufficient time to innovation. This confirms the earlier statement that human and organisational barriers dominate the area.

However, there are many scientific issues that are of concern to SMEs as they embark on the innovation journey. Food safety, with its own set of regulatory barriers, must be addressed. Likewise, sustainability issues must be addressed if a profitable development is to be achieved. Finally, consumer issues must be fully understood, especially since food product innovation has traditionally had a very low success rate. Language issues become equally important here since, while basic outcomes such as the continuing changes in eating habits across Europe can be understood, the language used by food scientists, consumer scientists and SME managers is not necessarily the same and a very close dialog between all three is essential for success.

As the development of the TRADEIT Strategic Research and Innovation will be progressing in stages over the coming 8 months, SMEs are invited to contribute by submitting to the project team short details of either a specific technological issue they may be experiencing and which could benefit from research or any barrier to innovation, no matter how small, they may feel that they are facing. Suggestions should be sent to either Brian McKenna or Jeroen Knol