Key Takeaways
- EIT Food Accelerator Network (FAN) and EIT Food Corporate Venturing Services have announced their 2025 corporate programme partners.
- The partnership includes major industry leaders, such as AAK, Cargill, Mars Petcare, Mondelēz International, Unilever Foundry, and more.
- Corporate partners will collaborate with AgriFoodTech startups to drive innovation, sustainability, and technology adoption in the food sector.
- The 2025 programme will focus on six innovation hubs, covering areas like circular food systems, resilient agriculture, sustainable packaging, and bioprocessing.
- Startups can apply until 21 February 2025 to gain access to the world’s largest AgriFoodTech innovation ecosystem.
EIT Food Accelerator Network Welcomes 2025 Corporate Partners
The EIT Food Accelerator Network (FAN) and EIT Food Corporate Venturing Services have announced their 2025 Corporate Programme Partners, featuring leading food and agribusiness companies.
The 2025 cohort includes:
✔ AAK
✔ Avril
✔ Barry Callebaut Group
✔ Carbery Group
✔ Cargill
✔ Peter Cremer Holding GmbH & Co. KG
✔ Deutsche Tiernahrung Cremer GmbH & Co. KG
✔ Delta Cafés
✔ Anadolu Efes
✔ Corporación Hijos de Rivera S.L.
✔ Hochland
✔ ICL Group
✔ Kerry Group
✔ Lantmännen
✔ Mars Petcare
✔ Martin Braun-Gruppe
✔ Mondelēz International
✔ Pascual Innoventures
✔ Paulig Group
✔ Unilever Foundry
Additional corporate partners are expected to join the programme in the coming months.
Yulia Bodnar, EIT Food Accelerator Network Programme Manager, stated:
“We are excited to welcome this exciting cohort of corporates to the EIT Food Accelerator Network. Their unparalleled industry insights and global reach are invaluable in helping our startups transform their innovations into successful market-ready solutions.”
Driving Innovation Through Collaboration
The EIT Food Accelerator Network connects corporates with promising AgriFoodTech startups, creating opportunities for technology scouting, validation, and strategic partnerships.
Throughout the programme, corporate partners will engage in:
✔ Reverse pitches – where corporates present challenges for startups to solve.
✔ Matchmaking sessions – connecting companies with startups that align with their business needs.
✔ Tech validation cases – providing real-world testing opportunities for innovative solutions.
Belen Moscoso del Prado, EIT Food Corporate Venturing Manager, highlighted: “Through the EIT Food Accelerator Network, we create a dynamic environment where companies can scout cutting-edge innovations, validate new technologies, and build strategic collaborations that drive real impact.”
2025 Programme: Six Innovation Hubs
Corporate partners can engage with one or two of the six Hubs, each focusing on a key area of food system transformation:
✔ Helsinki Hub – Circular solutions for food systems.
✔ Haifa Hub – Food as medicine.
✔ Munich Hub – Resilient supply chains & reducing Scope 3 emissions.
✔ Warsaw Hub – Future-resilient agriculture.
✔ Paris Hub – New ingredients and bioprocessing.
✔ Bilbao Hub – Sustainable food packaging.
Proven Impact & Future Opportunities at EIT Food Accelerator
In 2024, the EIT Food Accelerator Network facilitated:
- 70+ co-pilot studies, testing startup innovations with corporates.
- 1,300+ one-on-one meetings, fostering direct collaboration.
To reduce innovation risks, partners can also leverage the EIT Food PoC Co-Financing Tool, which supports pilot projects and proof-of-concept development.
Since its inception, EIT Food FAN has supported over 350 startups, helping to reshape the food industry with technology-driven, sustainable solutions.
Applications Open Until 21 February 2025
AgriFoodTech startups with game-changing solutions are encouraged to apply before 21 February 2025 to gain exclusive access to the world’s largest food innovation network.
