EIT Food is part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an independent European Union body established in 2008 and consisting of key industry players (more than 90 partner organizations and over 50 start-ups from 16 EU member states). The EIT Food aims to create and promote an environment across Europe that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship.
Regardless of whether an innovative idea is still at the initial generation stage or has already reached the point where it is fully ready for commercialization, EIT Food programs offer support at various stages of development. Training, mentoring, expert advice and consultations with specialists from the agri-food sector are some of the benefits that await those willing to participate in EIT Food programs. Currently, you can apply to, among others: EIT Jumpstarter, Challenge Labs, TeamUp and Test Farms.
Programmes that will allow to create or develop business idea
EIT Jumpstarter – for innovators who want to turn the idea into their own company
APPLY HERE till April 10th!
This cross-sector program is created in cooperation with different EIT communities: EIT Health, EIT Manufacturing, EIT RawMaterials, EIT InnoEnergy, EIT Digital. It is addressed to innovators, students, researchers, new technology enthusiasts or simply people who have an innovative idea to propose related to food, health care, energy, raw materials, industrial production, transport and mobility.
During the international workshops, participants gain a foundation of business knowledge and learn how to develop their idea in order to commercialize and market it. Intensive training focuses on perfecting the business plan and investor presentations. The best teams will compete in international finals for main prizes of up to 10 thousand euros.
Challenge Labs – for people who want to design the products of the future in the agri-food industry
APPLY HERE till April 10th!
This is a unique event in the food industry that brings together professionals from different fields to take on the challenges of designing the products and food solutions of the future. Created for the purpose of the workshop and diversified in terms of knowledge and specialization teams prepare innovative concepts that respond to selected challenges of the agri-food industry. The whole event is conducted in accordance with the Design Thinking method, which in the spirit of creativity supports the process of creating innovations. At the very end of the workshop, the teams prepare investor presentations, which are evaluated by a jury of industry experts. The winning team will be awarded a prize of EUR 2,000.
TeamUp – for scientists and entrepreneurs who want to join forces
APPLY HERE by:
- April 14 – for people with developed agri-food technologies who want to find a co-founder or team member with business skills;
- June 3 – for people with business skills and experience who would like to join forces with a technology innovator and build an agri-food startup together.
A well-chosen team is an important part of a successful business. TeamUp is a program designed to pair talented scientists with experienced entrepreneurs who know how to commercialize innovative technologies and solutions in the agrifood industry. Scientists and entrepreneurs are matched into teams and together go through a series of training and mentoring sessions with industry experts.
Additionally, throughout the duration of the program, they test their joint work, checking the convergence of mutual expectations and complementary competencies. The best teams have a chance to get funding of up to 40 thousand euros.
Test Farms – for agritech startups with prototype / MVP
Apply HERE till April 29th!
Test Farms is a program aimed at startups with an innovative prototype addressing agricultural challenges. In Test Farms, entrepreneurs can test their agri-product or technology on a farm or in a farmer’s field. EIT Food supports the process by finding a suitable farm and an interested farmer and engaging experienced advisors and agricultural experts during the testing. Participants in the program also have a chance to receive a grant of €3,000.
In addition to support programs such as EIT Jumpstarter, Challenge Labs, Test Farms and TeamUp, EIT Food offers programs for startups at various stages of development, including Empowering Women in Agrifood, Seedbed incubator, FAN gas pedal or Rising Food Stars, as well as access to industry leaders – more than 70 leading European agri-food companies, universities and research organizations m.in.Among them: Nestle, Pepsico, Danone, Maspex, John Deere, Givaudan, Doehler, Cambridge University, Fraunhofer Insitute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw University and Federation of Food Banks.
About EIT Food
EIT Jumpstarter, Challenge Labs, Test Farms and TeamUp are projects supported by EIT Food. EIT Food is the world’s largest and most dynamic community dedicated to food innovation. We accelerate innovation to build a future-proof food system that produces healthy and sustainable food for all.
Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, we invest in projects, organizations and individuals that share our goals for a healthy and sustainable food system. We unlock innovation potential in companies and universities and create and scale agri-food startups to bring new technologies and products to market. We equip entrepreneurs and professionals with the skills needed to transform the food system and put consumers at the center of our work, helping to build trust by reconnecting them to the origin of their food.
Learn more at: http://www.eitfood.eu or follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.
This article was produced in collaboration with EIT Food
