EIT Food Accelerator Network
THE 2026 COHORT
Discover the 65 groundbreaking AgriFoodTech startups scaling sustainable innovation across Europe.
6 INNOVATION HUBS | 65 STARTUPS | €600K+ IN GRANTS
At the heart of the EIT Food Accelerator Network lies a powerful framework: true change happens when you connect those who need innovation with those creating it, and those who can fund and scale it.
Catania
Innovation Hub
Helsinki
Munich
Paris
Wageningen
Warsaw
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“Transforming the global food system requires the synchronised strength of our entire innovation network. By connecting these 65 startups with world-class research institutions, market gatekeepers and specialised investors - we provide the ecosystem integration they need to bring cutting-edge science to market."
— Benoît Buntinx, Director of Business Creation at EIT Food
Connecting Europe's top ecosystems across 6 strategic themes.
Rigorously evaluated from hundreds applicants.
Ensuring market viability, corporate alignment, and scalability.
A collective funding pool driving immediate technology testing.
Water-smart agrifood
systems
Circular solutions for food systems
Smart and low-carbon
supply chains
Biotech ingredients, products and processes
Digital & autonomous
farming solutions
Future-resilient agriculture
WELCOME TO THE
We are thrilled to introduce the 9th cohort of the EIT Food Accelerator Network (FAN) programme.
This year, 65 outstanding AgriFoodTech startups were selected from hundreds of elite global applications. Each venture was rigorously evaluated by over 60 industry experts based on their market viability, technological scalability, and direct alignment with EIT Food’s core missions: health, sustainability, and transparency.
As a critical bridge across the agrifood value chain, the EIT FAN programme actively links these early-stage ventures with world-class research institutions, industry leaders, corporate partners, and investors to turn breakthrough ideas into commercial realities.
“Agrifood deeptech requires uncompromised operational and scientific validation to survive the transition from laboratory to industrial scale. Our milestone-driven accelerator programme addresses this challenge head-on, enabling startups to rigorously validate their technologies and advance their Technology Readiness Levels, building investable, market-ready ventures capable of delivering real impact across the food system.”
Europe's leading theme-based AgriFoodTech accelerator — connecting startups with the world's largest agrifood innovation community, including corporate partners, research facilities, testing labs, and investors across six specialised Hubs. Rated one of the Europe's Leading Start-Up Hubs by the Financial Times.
Rather than focusing solely on business mentoring, our curriculum is engineered around helping startups or supporting companies in validating, (re)shaping their product development roadmap, testing and piloting their innovative technologies. To facilitate this, participants have access to specialized European research facilities, pilot plants, and a shared pool of €600K+ in grants.
Open Innovation Challenges are run alongside our corporate partners, these challenges match startup capabilities with specific, real-world corporate needs, laying the groundwork for pilots, commercial agreements, and co-development.
Alexandra R. KyvikSenior Accelerator Programme ManagerAlexandra.kyvik@eitfood.eu
The EIT Food Accelerator Network introduces structured corporate open innovation challenges. Via this corporate collaboration model we want to ensure startups don't just build the future of food—they integrate into it.
Industry leaders pitch their real-world, high-priority business requirements directly to our startups. Ventures stop guessing what the market needs and start responding to defined commercial demands.
Curated, face-to-face sessions focus strictly on Proofs of Concept (PoCs), commercial pilots, and co-development. A rigorous matching process ensures time is spent only where there is a genuine intent to scale.
Startups leverage our six regional Hubs to unlock localised ecosystems of research institutions, market connections, and specialized corporate networks.
