The food industry is a significant industrial sector and employer in Finland. The sector, which is dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has faced challenges from various directions in recent years. There has been a sharp increase in costs due to factors such as poor harvest seasons, the pandemic and logistics issues related to it, and the Russian invasion, as well as the rising prices of production inputs (including raw materials and energy) and materials. At the same time, the industry is striving to reduce dependence on imported energy, which further increases costs. The research strategy of the Food and Drink Industry in Finland (ETL) identifies four transformative forces shaping the industry's operating environment: 1) pressures caused by climate change and related environmental changes, 2) growing environmental awareness among consumers, 3) opportunities opened up by digitalization to develop food industry value chains, production technologies, and consumer-centric food services, and 4) the development of new production technologies. The Food and Drink Industry in Finland emphasizes the importance of innovation and efficiency for companies to survive in the current challenging operational environment (ETL 09/2023). The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment also highlights the opportunities offered by digitization as crucial keys to success in the industry. To achieve sustainable solutions for the industry and strengthen competitiveness, especially for SMEs in the sector, new perspectives are needed. This includes research-based innovations and piloting them in real-world environments, extensive cross-regional and multi-stakeholder Research, Development, and Innovation collaboration, collaboration with public entities, better data-driven management, understanding and adopting new technologies, and the transfer of knowledge and skills through new innovation networks, both nationally and internationally. "Boosting food industry SMEs via research" is a six-month preparatory project that consists of building a national ERDF group project. The goal of the national project is to boost the competitiveness of companies in the food sector, increase direct RDI investments in the sector, and accelerate innovation activities and related expertise. The key focus areas of the planned project include strengthening the from research-to-business -pathway, promoting the use of digital solutions and data in the industry across regional and sectoral boundaries, enhancing piloting activities with the involvement of public entities, and creating a network model for knowledge sharing, all this using co-development methods. This new collaboration, which has already garnered interest from many RDI organisations, aims for measurable impact and to strengthen the industry's competitiveness, while supporting regional development. The project supports (via the planned national ERDF group project) the ERDF Programme Priority 1.1 (improving the commercial usability of research projects and interactive, open innovation processes). It is also well aligned with the national ERDF Innovation and Competence Networks theme. Similarly, the project supports both the national RDI roadmap and the priorities of the Baltic Sea Strategy (enhancing competitiveness in the Baltic Sea region). Additionally, the planned national project will support the Sustainable Development principles, particularly the development of local economic structures, while taking into consideration the principles of gender equality promotion in the EU.