EIT: Public Engagement Call 2023 – Consumer Observatory

Deadline: 15-Nov-22

European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Food has launched the Consumer Observatory Call 2023, an infrastructure umbrella programme aiming to combine EIT Food’s consumer insights knowledge in one place.

This is a cross-functional initiative that will reshape how EIT Food curates and maximises the impact of its consumer knowledge.

EIT Food is looking for organisations to join their new programme that will identify trends across the food system and create a valuable resource for consumer research and insights. As part of this call, EIT Food is seeking proposals from individuals, organisations and consortia from EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associate Countries across five different work packages, including project management, trend watch mechanism development, data visualisation, communication and financial sustainability.

The calls are open to organisations and individuals who aim to champion public engagement to accelerate:

• Improvements in conditions for enhanced public trust in the food system
• Better health outcomes from diets
• Improved environmental impact of the agrifood system
• The transition to a circular and sustainable economy.

The EIT Food Consumer Observatory Work Packages

• Work Package 1: Activity Management
  • This WP deals with the project management, timeline, internal communication, and deliverables. The Activity Lead (AL) will be responsible for:
    • Acting as the main EIT Food contact, liaising with the Senior EIT Food personnel overseeing this project and always ensuring continuous communication and clear reporting.
    • Designing and implementing a clear process for communication among the WP Leaders.
    • Coordinating project meetings, ensuring all WPs communicate effectively and collaborate towards the overall goal.
    • Ensuring all KPIs and deliverables are achieved.
    • Ensure all existing consumer trust projects are integrated effectively with cost savings where applicable.
• As all WPs are very closely linked and depend on one another, it’s crucial for the AL to make sure internal communication between WPs runs smoothly.
• Activity Leader (AL) Profile:
  • Academic/Corporate background.
  • A proven leader with board-level or equivalent strategic experience of running large projects ensuring that diverse teams collaborate to achieve common goals, strict budgets and timelines.
  • The ability to simplify complex issues, find a clear path through multiple opinions and inputs, and communicate effectively with multiple stakeholders.
  • Ideally experience of the consumer research industry, with an inherent passion for positively impacting consumer behaviour.
• Work Package 2: Trend Watch
  • This WP will set up trend watch mechanisms which include in-country spotters and futurists. It will also set up and manage the necessary advisory boards, including the already existing Consumer Advisory Board of EIT Food, which is a board made up of European consumer organisations. The purpose of the advisory boards is to add to the trend spotting work and enable the Observatory to be able to make the links between innovation areas to be explored and consumer trends. Additionally advisory board partners will be able to actively input and benefit from any output that’s relevant to their operation. Outcomes from this WP will feed into WP3 and drive the strategic direction of the insights work carried out.
  • WP2 Leader Profile: Corporate background preferred. Proven expertise in consumer trends, spotting/curating and communicating. Other consortium partners should clearly demonstrate how they contribute towards achieving the goals of the WP.
• Work Package 3: Insights
  • This WP will set up the insights structure and system with the aim of providing actionable insights and bringing the data to life. Any identified future trends, opportunities or gaps from Work Package 2 will also feed into this. It will incorporate, coordinate, and run EIT Food’s existing quantitative and qualitative studies (TrustTracker(r), Citizen Participation Forum) and set up new ones. It will set up and run an open access (to EIT Food) database with studies’ results and other available data. There is a need to create a process that mandates that any consumer-focused activity is run through the observatory moving forwards. Results from this Work Package will feed into both the following Work Packages, underpinning, and driving Communication/Dissemination and Business.
  • WP3 Leader Profile: Academic/Corporate background. An accomplished leader with experience in the research/information industry. The consortium must be able to demonstrate the ability to translate data into insights which will be delivered to WP 4, in addition to consumer insights expertise. All consortium partners should clearly demonstrate how they contribute towards achieving the goals of the WP.
• Work Package 4: Communication and Dissemination
  • This WP will set up and run the internal communications plan with the necessary internal feedback loops to make sure that the necessary EIT Food network players are well informed about project outcomes (MB, SB, partners, CLCs etc). In addition, the WP should set up and run the external communications plan/media strategy with the aim to position EIT Food as an expert on consumer engagement/insights in the food systems sphere. This WP will be responsible for putting together and promoting (based on insights provided by WP3) EIT Food’s yearly Trust Report and other reports needed to reach the goals of the WP.
  • WP4 Leader Profile: Corporate/science communication/marketing background preferred. Background in PR or communications is required. Possesses the ability to bring data alive and not afraid to give bold predictions based on the wealth of available data, through all types of media. Someone who could be a spokesperson. All consortium partners should clearly demonstrate how they contribute towards achieving the goals of the WP.

Funding Information

The Total Funding per WP year 2023 is dependent on available funding, but this table gives an indication on expected levels.

• WP1- 60.000 EUR
• WP2- 80.000 EUR
• WP3- 400.000 EUR
• WP4- 150.000 EUR
• WP5- 200.000 EUR

Eligibility Criteria

The EIT Food Consumer Observatory call is open to individuals and consortia from Member States of the European Union (EU) and from Horizon Europe Associate Countries. In an exceptional case, an entity not coming from the EU or the Third countries (not associated to Horizon Europe) can be awarded financial support, if approved directly by the EIT.

For more information, visit https://www.eitfood.eu/projects/public-engagement-consumer-observatory-call