Cyprus agrifood ventures to compete for up to €17,000 at Nicosia innovation event

Nicosia, Cyprus. Entrepreneurs participating in two European-backed agrifood programmes in Cyprus will compete for financial awards worth up to €17,000 combined at Agrifood Innovation Demo Day 2026 on November 6. Expert juries will assess their innovations and provide feedback on their progress.

Two routes to business development

The event will feature ventures supported by Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) Grow 2026 and EIT Food Challenge Lab: Ground2Scale+, two programmes offering complementary approaches to agrifood entrepreneurship in Cyprus.

Through EWA Grow 2026, 10 ventures led by women have received tailored mentoring, specialist training and support for entrepreneurial development, alongside access to Europe’s broader innovation ecosystem.

Ground2Scale+ has worked with more than 10 agrifood teams, supporting idea validation and improvements to business models and commercial strategies. Its support has also included individual mentoring and preparation for investment and growth.

Delivered within the EIT Food Challenge Labs framework, Ground2Scale+ carries the EIT Food label as an entrepreneurship programme.

Innovations across the agrifood sector

The teams’ work spans agricultural technology, regenerative agriculture, food innovation and sustainability. Other areas include fermentation, functional foods, food production, traceability, waste valorisation and the circular economy.

By presenting their progress, participants will be able to obtain expert feedback and meet stakeholders who could assist with business development. Bringing the programme cohorts together is intended to increase visibility for emerging ventures, allow them to compete for funding and build relationships that could support their next development stages.

Connecting entrepreneurs and industry

SocialTech Lab, which represents EIT Food in Cyprus, is organising the Demo Day. EIT Food receives support from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an EU body.

Alongside entrepreneurs, the gathering will bring together investors, researchers and industry professionals to examine opportunities within Cyprus’s agrifood and innovation ecosystem.