Starting in 2025, Wageningen University & Research (WUR) will enter a strategic partnership with EIT Food, the world's largest and most dynamic food innovation community supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
This collaboration offers both parties the opportunity to strengthen innovation within the food chain and translate scientific knowledge more effectively into practical applications. The collaboration aims to generate societal impact, effectively apply scientific insights in practice, and drive the broader adoption of innovations. The missions and ambitions of both organizations are well aligned, providing a strong foundation for a successful and impactful collaboration.
Collaborating on sustainable innovations across Europe
Through this partnership, WUR gains access to a broad network of research institutions, businesses, and startups across the European agri-food sector. This opens up new opportunities for research collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the development of innovations that contribute to a more sustainable and resilient food system. Additionally, the partnership aligns with WUR's ambition to play an active role in European policy development and innovation programmes, such as future EU framework programmes.
'Partnering with EIT Food provides WUR with a powerful platform to drive sustainable innovation in the agrifood sector and scale it within the food system,' says Gerda Feunekes, General Director of the Agrotechnology and Food Sciences Group at WUR. 'By joining forces, we can accelerate the application of research into real-world solutions and impact, benefiting both the industry and society.'
Strengthening the startup ecosystem
A key element of this collaboration is the enhancement of the Wageningen's startup ecosystem. By integrating EIT Food support into the StartHub Wageningen incubator and the StartLife accelerator programme, young entrepreneurs gain access to targeted funding and startup initiatives. This provides agri-food startups with additional opportunities to accelerate their innovations and scale up more effectively.
'Innovation doesn't happen in isolation. By strengthening our startup ecosystem through this partnership, we provide ambitious entrepreneurs with the resources, networks, and funding they need to develop solutions for a more sustainable food system,' says Sebastiaan Berendse, Director of Value Creation at WUR.
Fostering interaction and knowledge exchange
For EIT Food, the partnership with WUR strengthens its scientific foundation and provides access to one of the most renowned knowledge institutions in the fields of food and sustainability. Wageningen Campus provides EIT Food colleagues with a workspace to foster interaction and knowledge exchange. WUR actively participates in various EIT Food initiatives, including think tanks and entrepreneurship programmes, reinforcing the link between science and real-world application.
Richard Zaltzman, Chief Executive Officer of EIT Food, highlights the mutual benefits: 'WUR's expertise and reputation in food and agricultural sciences make them a perfect strategic partner for EIT Food. Their leadership in research and innovation will be invaluable as we work together to address global food challenges.'
During the initial two-year phase, the partnership focuses on fostering collaboration and creating impact within the network. WUR strengthens its role in innovation projects and builds new connections with startups, research institutions, and industry partners. After this period, an evaluation will assess the partnership's added value and determine the next steps for future collaboration.
Through this partnership, WUR and EIT Food join forces to elevate innovation and entrepreneurship in the European agri-food sector to new heights.
