Second Edition of Bilbao Campus Experience brings agrifood innovation and international talent to Bizkaia
The second edition of the Bilbao Campus Experience, organised by EIT Food with the support of the Basque Government and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, once again champions innovation and acts as a gateway to the Basque entrepreneurial ecosystem.
EIT Food has selected 10 startups with already implemented business solutions to take part in the programme at BAT Tower in Bilbao. Their innovations include: robots that support agriculture; early detection of vineyard diseases; new ingredients that enhance the quality of plant-based foods; the transformation of fish scales into collagen; systems that protect bee colonies; snacks made from marine by-products; and other biotechnology-related solutions.
The agrifood sector is undergoing a major technological transformation, often led by emerging startups. Bizkaia is contributing to this momentum by attracting international talent through the Bilbao Campus Experience, organised by EIT Food, with the support of the Basque Government (Department of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries) and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia (Department of Economic Promotion).
Now in its second edition, the programme has selected 10 startups from nine different countries for a month-long immersive business experience this November. The initiative acts as a point of entry into the vibrant Basque entrepreneurial ecosystem. The official launch took place today at B Accelerator Tower (BAT) in Bilbao.
“Bilbao Campus Experience is a transformative and personalised journey, focused on the specific needs of each participant and enabling direct interaction with potential suppliers, customers, investors, and industry leaders“
Participants will also benefit from personalised mentoring, expert guidance, and community-building opportunities to share knowledge and experiences.
Iker Iglesias, Director of Food and Industry Policy at the Basque Government, presented the Basque innovation ecosystem during the launch event, highlighting how such initiatives “open the door to new ventures and provide an excellent platform for rapid and sustainable growth. The solutions presented here are directly relevant to societal needs, and this programme sets an excellent benchmark for collaborative innovation.”
Meanwhile, Joseba Mariezkurrena, Director of Entrepreneurship, Talent and Business Competitiveness at the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, outlined the opportunities available to startups in the region:
“Bizkaia offers entrepreneurs a unique ecosystem and a comprehensive pathway of support and services that accompany them from the early stages to consolidation and growth. Our goal is for startups to find here the right environment, backing, and opportunities to reach their full potential. This is why Bizkaia stands out today as one of the best places in Europe to launch and scale a startup.”
The 10 selected startups share a strong technological focus and come from Poland, Serbia, France, Argentina, Sweden, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Turkey, and Bulgaria. Selection criteria included the innovative nature of their solutions, potential impact, maturity stage, and team strength.
- MiFood (Poland) develops robots that help reduce food waste and crop losses by 30%, offering an alternative to labour shortages while cutting CO₂ emissions.
- Veles Sense (Serbia) applies artificial intelligence in agriculture to detect early signs of vineyard stress using thermal imaging, drones, and cameras—identifying issues even before symptoms appear.
- Happeaz (France) produces vegetarian food (burgers, nuggets, etc.) for both retail and catering sectors.
- Food 4 You (Argentina) is a biotech company developing unique bacterial blends for plant-based fermentation, combining bioinformatics and traditional methods to create dairy alternatives that “outperform traditional products in both flavour and nutrition.”
- Food Scales (Sweden) transforms discarded fish scales into food-grade ingredients such as collagen, turning marine by-products into sustainable and innovative solutions.
- BeeSage (Netherlands) provides a modular early-warning system to protect honeybee colonies from pests and diseases, using lightweight smart devices and a real-time data platform.
- Freyia Labs (Cyprus) offers an intelligent system for producers of non-alcoholic fermented food and beverages, enhancing batch quality, performance, and regulatory compliance.
- MycoVibes (Poland), a biotech startup, produces next-generation mycoprotein derived from shiitake mycelium, enabling animal protein replacement “without compromising on nutrition, taste, or cost.”
- Enthela (Bulgaria) develops microorganism-based products that reduce the need for chemical inputs in grain production, protecting seeds from environmental fluctuations and chemical stress.
- Tetis Biotech (Turkey) leads Seanacks, a project that recycles marine by-products such as fish skin and bones into collagen-enriched snacks.
