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EIT Food Accelerator Network Unveils 2025 Corporate Program Partners

On February 16, 2025, the EIT Food Accelerator Network (FAN) proudly announced its esteemed partners for the 2025 Corporate Program, aimed at driving innovation and transformation in the food system. This exciting initiative brings together a multitude of prominent companies, including AAK, Avril, Barry Callebaut Group, and many others, all dedicated to fostering sustainable solutions in the food industry.

Yulia Bodnar, Program Manager of the EIT Food Accelerator Network, expressed her enthusiasm stating, "We are thrilled to welcome this remarkable cohort of companies to EIT Food Accelerator Network. Their unparalleled industry knowledge and global reach will be invaluable in helping our startups turn their innovations into successful, market-ready solutions. Our goal is to accelerate the development of impactful and sustainable food solutions through this exciting partnership."

EIT Food’s Corporate Venturing Services are designed to connect forward-thinking companies with Europe’s most promising agri-food startups. The program creates an environment where businesses can explore cutting-edge innovations, validate new technologies, and develop strategic collaborations that create real impact. Belén Moscoso del Prado, the Corporate Venturing Manager at EIT Food, added, "We are excited to welcome our new corporate partners into the ecosystem and look forward to the innovative solutions that will emerge from these connections."

Corporate partners in the EIT Food Accelerator Network will have unique opportunities to connect with pioneering agricultural and food technology startups. Throughout the program, they will engage in key activities including reverse pitches, matchmaking sessions, and technology validation cases, gaining direct access to startups both online and in person. The flexibility to choose one or two from the six hubs focused on different innovation areas allows these partners to align their objectives with the most relevant topics for their business.

The themes for this year include:

• - Sustainable packaging (Bilbao Hub)
• - Circular solutions for food systems (Helsinki Hub)
• - Food as medicine (Haifa Hub)
• - Resilient supply chains and reduction of scope 3 emissions (Munich Hub)
• - Future-resilient agriculture (Warsaw Hub)
• - New ingredients and bioprocessing (Paris Hub)

In 2024, the EIT Food Accelerator Network facilitated over 70 pilot studies and more than 1300 individual meetings between companies and emerging businesses, fostering high-impact collaborations. Additionally, partners looking to develop a pilot or proof of concept (PoC) will have the chance to utilize EIT Food’s PoC co-funding tool, reducing innovation risk and accelerating real-world solutions.

Since its inception, the EIT Food Accelerator Network has been instrumental in supporting over 350 startups that are redefining the food landscape through technology, sustainability, and new business models. AgriFoodTech startups with innovative solutions are encouraged to apply by February 21, 2025, to gain exclusive access to the largest and most dynamic food innovation community in the world.

EIT Food Accelerator Network is a pan-European program lasting two to three months, which allows the most promising agri-food technology startups to validate their technology and advance their market readiness and investment potential. The six EIT Food Accelerator Network Hubs provide privileged access to industry-leading companies and assist startups in identifying research centers, universities, and facilities to achieve successful market adoption.

EIT Food connects those in need of innovation and technology with those who develop it and those who wish to finance and scale it. More information can be found on EIT Food's official website or by following their social media pages on LinkedIn and YouTube.

EIT Food is the world’s largest and most dynamic food innovation community. We accelerate innovation to build a future-ready food system that produces healthy and sustainable food for all. With the support of the EU, we invest in projects, organizations, and individuals who share our goals for a healthy and sustainable food system. Our mission involves harnessing innovation potential in businesses and universities, creating and scaling agri-food startups to bring new technologies and products to market. We equip entrepreneurs and professionals with the skills to transform the food system and place consumers at the heart of our work, helping them reconnect with the origins of their food. We are one of nine innovation communities created by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an independent EU body established in 2008 to drive innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe.