CSEM coordinates the Swiss cluster in a European project to develop cutting-edge technologies for sustainable agriculture and forestry

• Small, medium, and large companies join forces with RTOs to develop cutting-edge technological solutions for electronic components and systems for the agriculture and forestry industries
• R&D includes sensors, related integration, software, connectivity, and data management
• Focus on R&D in security and reliability, as well as autonomous motion and robotics platforms

Food access and security is a global challenge: climate change, supply chain disruption, labor shortages, and political and military aggression are just some of the factors impacting this vital resource. In response, we need transparent and improved productivity in agriculture and forestry, as well as easy access to cutting-edge technological innovation and automation. In addition, we can help combat climate change by improving the sustainable use of fertilizers and irrigation. Europe's resilience, therefore, requires efficient technological solutions, ranging from hardware to holistic data management.

Focus on food security and improved agricultural and forestry productivity

Launched in January 2023, the AGRARSENSE project addresses these needs by developing technologies for different use cases that represent seven perspectives found in European agriculture and forestry today: Greenhouses, vertical farming, precision viticulture, agriculture robotics, forestry machinery, and optimal soil management and fertilization, as well as agriculture-related water management. R&D in electronic components and systems-related technology includes, for example, plant, soil, and water sensors and their integration, as well as software, connectivity, and data management solutions. R&D in safety and reliability, as well as autonomous motion and robotics platforms, will pave the way for extensive commercial exploitation of project outcomes.

AGRARSENSE brings together a total of 52 partners from 15 EU countries 

We are proud to be driving European innovation through the AGRARSENSE project," says Peter Assarsson of Komatsu Forest AB, the overall coordinator of the project. “The project aims to achieve remarkable technological and economic impact, not only by developing cutting-edge solutions for end users but also for project partners and society at large. It is expected that the new technologies developed under AGRARSENSE will generate 250 million euros in new turnover for the participating companies by 2030. In addition, the project aims to develop 49 new products, 80 new partnerships, hundreds of new jobs, and additional investments.”

“AGRARSENSE forms an R&D and innovation ecosystem that benefits not only all the partners involved, but also European Agriculture and forestry sector at large,” says Axel Wille from Fraunhofer EMFT, one of the project initiators and technical coordinator of the project. “The new innovative combinations and cross-pollination of technologies will allow faster innovation and knowledge generation. While the large enterprises assure wider economic and technological impacts, SMEs play a key role in the consortium making up 44% of the partners,” concludes Erika Györvary from CSEM, the other project initiator. 

Swiss cluster coordinated by CSEM: More effective agriculture and forestry with less environmental impact

CSEM will coordinate the activities of the Swiss consortium members. These members are Agroscope, affiliated with the Federal Office for Agriculture, CHANGINS School for viticulture and enology member of the University of Sciences and Art Western Switzerland (HES-SO) group, Swisens AG, Swiss Vault Systems GmbH, and Vivent SA.  

Consortium project partners

Project coordinator: Komatsu Forest AB 

Project partners in alphabetical order: 

Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, AGreenCulture, Aquamonitrix Ltd., Beenen B.V., Berg Product B.V., Besi Netherlands B.V., CISC Semiconductor GmbH, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche,  Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria, CSEM, DAC Spolka Akcyjna, Demcon Industrial Systems Groningen B.V. (Affiliate), Demcon Optiqua B.V. (Affiliate), Demcon Unmanned Systems B.V., Eidgenöessisches Departement für Wirtschaft, Bildung und Forschung, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Graphenea Semiconductor Sl, Guideline Geo, Haute Ecole Spécialisée de Suisse occidentale, Heimann Sensor GmbH, Hoogendoorn Automatisering B.V., Integrated Detector Electronics AS, Kovilta Oy, Lapland University of Applied Sciences, Latvijas Universitates Matematikas un Informatikas Instituts, LetsGrow.com B.V. (Affiliate), Microfluidic Chipshop GmbH, Netsens S.r.l., Ommatidia Lidar S.L., Politechnika Gdanska, Probot Oy, Research Studios Austria Forschungsgesellschaft Mbh, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden Ab, Rumbletools, Sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību “SunGIS”, Smart Greenery GmbH, Smartmotion S.R.O., Sobolt B.V., Softtech Yazılım Teknolojileri Araştırma Geliştirme ve Pazarlama Ticaret A.Ş., Soil Scout Oy, Swisens AG, Swiss Vault Systems GmbH, Sysman Progetti & Servizi S.r.l., Technische Universiteit Delft, TTControl GmbH, TTControl S.r.l., TTTech Computertechnik AG (Affiliate), Tyndall, Unikie Oy, Vivent SA, Západočeská univerzita v Plzni (University of West Bohemia). 

About AGRARSENSE 

AGRARSENSE is an extensive 3-year project with 52 partners from 15 European countries and an overall budget of 51 M€.  It is co-financed via the Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking of Horizon Europe, national funding agencies of the participating countries, and consortium partners. The project consortium consists of 24 small and mid-sized enterprises, 13 large enterprises, and 15 research and technology organizations. Geographically, the consortium covers Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Europe: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Latvia, Ireland, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and Turkey. The consortium covers the full value chain including sensors and components, packaging and hardware integration, software, algorithm, connectivity developments, and system aspects, as well as testing, reliability, cyber security, and user safety elements. The project consortium and proposal were built with the help of Spinverse.

About Chips JU 

Chips JU is a public-private partnership that supports research, development, and manufacturing capacities in the European semiconductor ecosystem. It confronts semiconductor shortages and strengthens Europe’s digital autonomy.

https://www.chips-ju.europa.eu/

This project is supported by the Chips Joint Undertaking (Grant Agreement No. 101095835) and its members Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland. This work includes top-up funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).