Marketed Innovation Prize
We are proud to announce the winners of the Marketed Innovation Prize 2025! . Seven entrepreneurs have been awarded €10,000 in recognition of their leadership, impact and contribution to building a healthier, more sustainable and resilient food system.
About the Marketed Innovation Prize
As a KIC, we, our partners and start-ups have continuously invested in innovation since our inception, bringing numerous products and services to market. We want to reward the success of our community and recognise the impact that the products and services derived from EIT Food projects and programmes have had, through a prize challenge.
The Innovation Prize highlights entrepreneurs delivering real-world impact today, moving beyond prototypes to solutions that are already improving how food is produced, processed, and consumed. This year, the prize places a special focus on recognising the innovators themselves, celebrating the talent, commitment, and leadership behind each breakthrough. In addition to financial support, winners will benefit from visibility through EIT Food’s global channels, media exposure, and opportunities to present at major industry events.
The winners were chosen by a panel of two independent external experts in innovation and food systems, alongside one internal evaluator. All applications were assessed against four core criteria: impact, novelty, commercial potential and traction, and leadership. In total, 118 completed applications were received, reflecting the strong level of interest in the prize.
Meet the 2025 winners!
Rising Innovator Award
Gustavo Adolfo Gonzalez Flores, Agree NET won the Rising Innovator Award for PìFresc, a patented plant-based coating that extends the shelf-life of fresh fruit by over 25 days without using plastic, synthetic chemicals, or controlled atmosphere technology.
Women in Innovation Award
Katharina Henn, MATR Foods – Women in Innovation Award for MATR Fungal, a new generation of clean-label plant-based meat alternatives using solid-state fungal fermentation applied directly to whole, locally sourced organic vegetables, grains, and legumes.
Global Reach Innovator Award
Iratxe Perales from the company Microfy Systems, won the Global Reach Innovator Award with its innovation HoneyAI, a fully automated, AI-powered microscopy system that replaces the entire honey analysis workflow by autonomously preparing samples, capturing images, and interpreting them with advanced computer-vision models to deliver standardised, laboratory-grade results in minutes.
Impact Innovator Award
Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez, from the company Notpla, won the Impact Innovator Award with its innovation Seaview Range, the world’s first fully natural window box range, combining seaweed-based coating technology with a seaweed-based window for total packaging transparency.
Tech Pioneer Award
Ilker Bektaş, from the company Orbiba Robotics, won the Tech Pioneer Award with its innovation Ecominos, an affordable, AI-powered modular field robot that uses AI vision, multispectral sensing, and CERN-licensed Structured Laser Beam technology to automate weeding, protect beneficial plants, and deliver real-time soil insights through a plug-and-play Robot-as-a-Service model for small and medium-sized farms.
Market Excellence Innovator Award
Srdjan Tadic, from the company Atfield Technologies, won the Market Excellence Innovator Award with its innovation Winessence, a specialised vineyard management platform that combines precise environmental monitoring, disease prediction, and growth tracking tailored for viticulture.
Student Innovator Award
Oluwaseun Olawusi, from the company Gloxad Academy, won the Student Innovator Award with its innovation Gloxad, a flexible, personalised online learning platform that equips individuals and organisations with future-ready skills across digital technologies, agritech, food technology, climate tech, software development, blockchain, and soft skills through self-paced courses, customised training, live sessions, and community engagement.
You have launched a new product in 2026?
Applications have not yet open but feel free to contact us to get information about next Prize.