EIT Food: Supporting food innovation for a future-fit food system

The European food sector is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by challenges such as climate change, food security, and public health. At the centre of this transition is EIT Food, a major European initiative designed to accelerate innovation across the agrifood sector. Backed by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, EIT Food brings together businesses, universities, startups, and researchers to create a more sustainable, healthy, and resilient food system.

What is EIT Food?

EIT Food is one of the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) established by the EIT to drive innovation in specific sectors. Its primary aim is to transform how food is produced, distributed, and consumed by fostering collaboration across the entire food value chain.

The organisation focuses on three key missions:

• Healthier lives through better food choices
• A net-zero, environmentally sustainable food system
• A transparent and resilient food supply chain

EIT Food operates by funding projects, supporting startups, and delivering education programmes that help translate innovative ideas into real-world solutions. It connects stakeholders, from farmers to multinational companies, to accelerate innovation and bring new products and technologies to market.

How does the grant work?

EIT Food funding is delivered through its Impact Funding Framework, which supports both collaborative programmes and individual innovation projects. The grants are designed to help organisations develop new food technologies or services, scale up existing innovations, and address key societal challenges such as sustainability and nutrition.

The level of funding varies depending on the programme and the type of project. For instance, commercial innovation projects can receive up to €400,000 per project, while fast-track market funding schemes may provide up to €250,000. Larger collaborative programmes typically receive between €250,000 and €750,000 per year. In addition to grant funding, startups may also have access to equity investment opportunities of up to €2 million.

Who can apply?

EIT Food funding is open to a wide range of organisations across Europe, including:

• Startups and scale-ups in agrifood technology
• Universities and research institutes
• SMEs and large companies
• Non-profits and public organisations

Many EIT Food funding calls require applicants to form a consortium, meaning a partnership of at least two independent organisations from different eligible countries. Projects are usually led by a coordinating organisation, with partners contributing specific expertise such as research, commercialisation, or communication.

How to apply?

Want to get involved? Visit the EIT Food website for the current overview of open calls or view the 2026 open call calendar.

EIT Food – Impact funding framework: summary

Deadline: multiple submission windows

Funding: €250,000 – €750,000 per year

Funding rate: 70%,  co-funding is mandatory

Total budget: not defined

Project duration: 3 years

Consortium: Consortia consisting of at least two independent entities from two different eligible countries from Member States of the European Union and from Horizon Europe Associated Countries

Scope: The Impact Funding Framework promotes collaboration that will lead to food systems change to benefit everyone. The funding is based on two separate areas:

Collaborative missions: This mission is for NGO’s – 100% grant focussed on the below

• Improve the impact of diet on obesity and non-communicable disease
• Reduce food-system-related environmental harms
• Deal with the threats posed by food integrity and complex supply chains

Single projects: This is for small consortia with an SME in the lead to bring a product to the market

• Protein diversification, bringing protein diversification to the mainstream
• Regenerative agriculture, enabling farmers to lead the transition to Net Zero
• Labelling, packaging & transparency, empowering people in their food choices

About EIT

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is an EU body that strengthens Europe’s ability to innovate by supporting solutions to major global challenges and nurturing entrepreneurial talent. As an integral part of Horizon Europe, it plays a key role in driving sustainable economic growth, job creation, and skills development across Europe.

The EIT operates through pan-European partnerships known as Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), which bring together leading companies, universities, and research organisations. These communities, such as EIT Food, EIT Health, and EIT Climate-KIC, deliver a wide range of innovation and entrepreneurship activities across Europe, helping to turn ideas into impactful solutions.

About Catalyze

At Catalyze we commit ourselves to accelerating innovations that have a positive impact on the world. We are the driving force for your innovations through our offering of strategic consulting services, funding consultancy, project management and more, which deliver impactful expertise for all development stages. With the highest quality in the industry, we aim to be the consulting partner of choice to drive the success of meaningful innovation projects.