EIT Food Challenge Labs and Awarenes Event in North Macedonia
🌱 Vita Nova Innovation Days 2025 🌱
Во рамките на нашите иновациски денови, со гордост го организираме EIT Food Challenge Labs Macedonia 2025 — настан кој ги обединува креативните умови, стартапите и експертите од агро и прехранбениот сектор за да создадат иновативни решенија за подобра иднина на храната.
Registration for the teams: EIT Food Challenge Labs Macedonia 2025-Формулар за пријава
EIT Food Awareness Final Event
The event aims to highlight the power of collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers in building a sustainable and innovative agrifood ecosystem in North Macedonia. Participants will have the opportunity to discover the most innovative solutions developed during the Challenge Labs, and to network with experts, investors, and entrepreneurs.
Registration deadline: 25 October 2025
Contact: eitfoodapplications@gmail.com | zblazevska@vitanova.com.mk
Agenda available below:
Agenda for the Challenge Labs:
Day 1 – Setting the Scene & Team Formation
09:15 – 09:45 Welcome Coffee & Registration
Participant check-in and informal networking in the Creative Hub area.
09:45 – 10:00 Opening Remarks
10:00 – 10:30 Keynote Presentation: “The Future of Agrifood Innovation”
10:30 – 11:00 Presentation of Challenges
Researchers and policymakers introduce regional challenges in food innovation, processing, and sustainability.
11:00 – 12:45 Team Formation & Co-Creation Session I – Exploring the Challenge
Interactive session where teams are formed and begin developing practical food innovation concepts using the venue’s pilot equipment for hands-on experimentation and prototyping.
12:45 – 13:30 Lunch & Networking
13:30 – 15:00 Design Thinking Workshop – From Idea to Prototype
Participants work on concept generation using available cooking, mixing, and processing equipment for first trials.
15:00 – 15:30 Wrap-Up & Outlook for Day 2
Recap of learnings and preparation for prototyping and mentoring sessions.
Day 2 - Co-Creation & Solution Development
09:15 – 09:30 Morning Recap & Agenda Overview
09:30 – 11:00 Co-Creation Session II – Ideation & Prototyping
Hands-on session with mentors and technical experts; teams use venue equipment to test early product or process concepts.
11:00 – 11:45 Mentoring Carousel
11:45 – 12:30 Lunch & Informal Consultations
Open discussion with mentors and prototype demonstrations in the kitchen lab.
12:30 – 13:30 Business Model Refinement Workshop
13:30 – 15:15 Pitch Training & Rehearsal
15:15 - 15:30 Wrap-Up & Preparation for Final Event (30 October 2025)
Agenda for EIT Food Awareness Final Event:
09:00 – 09:30 Registration of participants and welcome coffee
09:30 – 09:45 Opening and Welcome Remarks – EIT Food & Vita Nova
09:50 – 10:30 Panel Discussion: “The Power of Collaboration in Agrifood Innovation”
- Moderator: Dr. Zagorka Blaževska – Founder & Project Leader, Vita Nova
Panelists:
- Prof. Marina Nacka – Professor, Institute of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food – Skopje (Academic perspective on innovation and agrifood economy)
- Dr. Dimitar Duskoski – Acibadem Sistina Hospital – “Eating habits and cardiovascular health: non-communicable diseases in North Macedonia” (Health and nutrition perspective)
- Paweł Harycki – EIT Food EcoSystem Manager – (European perspective on innovation and collaboration)
10:40 – 11:10 Panel Discussion: “Building a Collaborative Ecosystem – Industry Experts, Policymakers and Entrepreneurs”
- Moderator: Dr. Zagorka Blaževska – Vita Nova
Panelists:
- Mr. Goran Georgievski – President of the Union of Chambers of Commerce and President of the Agro-Chamber (Industry and entrepreneurship ecosystem leadership)
- Dr. Svetlana Kolarik – State Counsellor for Food Safety, Food and Veterinary Agency (AHV) (Policy and regulatory perspective)
- Representative from INOVA – National Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Innovation policy and funding perspective)
11:15 – 12:00 Coffee Break & Networking
12:00 – 13:00 Final Pitch Session – Jury composed of representatives from EIT Food, INOVA (National Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship), industry experts, academia, and business leaders
13:00 – 13:15 Jury Deliberation & Summary of Results
13:30 – 14:00 Awards Ceremony and Closing Remarks
14:00 – 15:00 Networking Lunch & Rooftop Reception