Key Takeaways
- The HIC Venture Studio has launched as the world’s first venture studio dedicated entirely to horticulture.
- The studio focuses on six transition themes in greenhouse horticulture: energy transition, resilient cultivation, circular systems, autonomous cultivation, automation, and future-proof working.
- Catalyze will serve as a core partner, providing strategic consulting and grant-writing support to help startups secure non-dilutive funding.
- Leadership from both organizations highlighted the studio’s role in accelerating innovation and supporting future-proof greenhouse systems.
- The HortiScience Innovation Center (HIC) ecosystem brings together academic institutions, research organizations, and entrepreneurship networks to support emerging pioneers.
HIC Unveils the World’s First Venture Studio Fully Dedicated to Horticulture
The HortiScience Innovation Center (HIC) has officially launched the HIC Venture Studio, marking the world’s first venture studio designed exclusively to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological advancement within the horticulture sector. The studio was inaugurated on 29 October 2025 and represents a major step in accelerating the transformation of greenhouse horticulture.
The HIC Venture Studio is built around six strategic themes that reflect the sector’s most important transitions:
- Energy transition
- Resilient cultivation systems
- Circular greenhouse horticulture
- Autonomous cultivation
- Automation
- Future-proof working
These themes will guide the development of new technologies, business models, and startups emerging from the studio.
