Agrifood startup funding and grants

European CommissionGrant

Horizon Europe Cluster 6 – Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Collaborative research and innovation calls on biodiversity, natural resources, food and agriculture systems and the circular bio-based economy. The Commission states a budget nearing € 9 billion for the cluster.

EIT Food Accelerator Network

Accelerator for pre-Series A agrifood start-ups at TRL 4–8 registered in the EU or a Horizon Europe associated country. Offers a €3,000 travel grant and tech-validation funding of up to €50,000, paid through a SAFE, so it is not equity-free.

Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG / BLW)Grant

Vorabklärung innovative Projekte (VIP)

Grants for pre-studies of innovative agriculture and food projects of up to CHF 20,000, covering at most 50% of costs. Deadlines are 31 January, 30 April, 31 July and 31 October.

BMLEH (Projektträger BLE)Grant

Programm zur Innovationsförderung des BMLEH

Funds innovation in agri-tech, breeding, plant protection, livestock, food safety, nutrition, food processing and aquaculture by applicants with a branch in Germany. Industrial research is funded at up to 70% for small companies.

European Innovation Council (EISMEA)Grant

EIC Accelerator

Funds single start-ups and SMEs, including spin-outs, from EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries. It combines a grant (lump sum below €2.5 million) for innovation activities at TRL 6–8 with equity investments of up to €10 million.

European Innovation CouncilGrant

EIC Pathfinder

Grants of up to EUR 4 million for early-stage research towards breakthrough technologies. Pathfinder Open requires a consortium of at least three independent entities; Pathfinder Challenges also accept single applicants and two-partner consortia.

European Innovation CouncilGrant

EIC Transition

Grants of up to EUR 2.5 million to validate and demonstrate a technology and build market readiness. Projects must build on results of an eligible project such as EIC Pathfinder or ERC Proof of Concept; single SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs and consortia can apply.

European Innovation CouncilEquity

EIC STEP Scale Up

Equity, not a grant: investments of EUR 10 million to EUR 30 million in 2026 for single SMEs and small mid-caps with fewer than 500 employees in digital and deep tech, clean tech and biotech. A qualified investor must pre-commit to the round.

Eureka (with national funding bodies)Grant

Eurostars

International R&D projects led by an innovative SME, with partners from at least two Eurostars countries. Each partner is funded by its national body: Innosuisse in Switzerland, BMFTR in Germany (max. 500,000 € for German partners together), FFG in Austria.

European Institute of Innovation & TechnologySupport & coaching

EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities

Business creation programmes run by EIT communities such as Climate-KIC, EIT Health and InnoEnergy. Start-ups and scale-ups get access to financing opportunities, market access, training, mentoring and investor matchmaking.

European Commission (EIB Group and other implementing partners)Loan

InvestEU Fund

An EU budget guarantee that supports loans and equity through the EIB Group and other financial intermediaries. Companies do not apply to the Commission; they reach the financing through the implementing partners.