Food Solutions Ecotrophelia Special Edition Implementing Consortia Call

EIT Food is seeking implementing participants (organisations) that apply as a Consortium (strongly recommend including a task leader) to recruit, evaluate, select and mentor prospective learners and equipping them with problem solving skills, critical thinking, knowledge of design thinking, capabilities for business idea and prototype development, leadership skills, communication skills, market research, risk analysis, negotiation and pitching skills. EIT Food, Food Solutions Ecotrophelia Special Edition courses are structured around collaborative and hands-on learning. Designed for bachelor’s or master’s students enrolled at European public or private higher education institutions, science, or business schools, the programme focuses on the development of innovative, eco-friendly food products. The duration of the Food Solutions Ecotrophelia Special Edition for the Consortia is six months, the programme includes workshops, mentoring sessions, and pitch sessions provided by the Consortium, enabling learners to develop and refine their ideas. Teams are guided through a structured process facilitated by the Consortium that encompasses problem definition, ideation, prototyping, and final presentations to industry experts and stakeholders. EIT Food will offer guidelines to facilitate pitch sessions and final presentations, ensuring that learners are well-prepared to showcase their solutions. An entrepreneurial and innovation course, also provided by EIT Food, equips learners with essential skills to drive their business cases forward. This course is aligned with the EIT Food Competency Framework, focusing on a combination of technical and underpinning capabilities.

Food Solutions Ecotrophelia Special Edition entails a pilot designed to support National Ecotrophelia competitions in countries where Ecotrophelia has yet to be established. It also aims to support universities joining an existing Ecotrophelia National Federation for the first time within their countries, with support from EU funding to expand the reach of eco-innovation and fostering a broader network of sustainable food entrepreneurship across Europe. The purpose of the Food Solutions Ecotrophelia Special Edition is to support consortia in establishing a sustainable Ecotrophelia framework for the future, encouraging them to develop diverse funding mechanisms and engage national federations to ensure the programme stability and growth.

The Ecotrophelia Europe competition focused on food innovation. It is designed for student teams from across Europe who compete by creating innovative, and sustainable food products. The competition format includes the following key competition:

1. National Competitions: Each participating country holds its own national competition, where student teams present their food innovations. The winning team from each country advances to the European final.

2. European Competition: The finalists from each country compete at the European level. This involves a presentation of their product, which includes a detailed description of the innovation, its market potential, its environmental benefits, etc.

An expert panel of judges, consisting of industry professionals, academics, and other stakeholders, evaluates the teams based on criteria such as innovation, market feasibility, environmental impact, and presentation skills. The competition concludes with an awards ceremony where the top teams are recognized, and prizes are awarded. Please visit Ecotrophelia Europe for more information.

The Food Solutions Ecotrophelia Special Edition is designed to integrate with the Ecotrophelia Competition by preparing learners to compete at the highest level of food innovation. The structured process provided by the Consortium, including problem definition, ideation, prototyping, and pitch preparation, aligns closely with the competition's demands. Participation in the Food Solutions Ecotrophelia Special Edition ensures that teams are well-equipped to present compelling business cases at the Ecotrophelia Competition, where they can showcase their innovations to a panel of industry experts. This programme serves as a preparatory stage, enhancing the overall impact and effectiveness of their participation in the Ecotrophelia National and/or European Competition.

Food Solutions Ecotrophelia Special Edition is looking for academic organisations to guide and mentor learner groups to develop innovative food solutions aligned with the EIT Food Missions. The implementing participants (organisations) must develop a version that can operate independently from EIT Food funding in the future, consistent with the model established by the rest of Ecotrophelia and have relevant expertise and networks in the following 3 EIT Food mission.

For detailed information on eligibility, the evaluation and selection process, funding, and administrative matters, please read the Call Guidelines.