Global Food Venture Programme
For PhDs who want to unlock their entrepreneurial potential and shape the future of our Food System.
The Global Food Venture Programme (GFVP) is a Europe-wide initiative that empowers PhD students to unlock their entrepreneurial potential and turn their research into real-world impact. Run by EIT Food and co-funded by the European Union, GFVP offers a unique learning journey that encompasses entrepreneurial courses, business development, personal mentoring, industry involvement, hands-on experience and a pan-European networking
Over the past eight years, more than 280 PhD students have joined GFVP, gaining the tools, confidence, and impactful connections they need to become changemakers in the agrifood sector.
GFVP is a blending online learning with in-person activities hosted by some of Europe’s top universities, research centres, and innovation hubs. Doctoral students follow a multi-year pathway that typically spans two to three years. Step by step, you’ll move from understanding the basic principles of the food system innovation to developing entrepreneurial skills and, ultimately, taking action on your own ideas - all under the guidance of the EIT Food Education Competency Framework.
GFVP is open to current PhD students
GFVP is open to current PhD students from any background related to food, agriculture, biotechnology, sustainability, or social innovation. You don’t need to have a business idea in mind - just a passion for creating impact from your PhD research. The programme brings together students from all over Europe, connecting them with business coaches, technology experts, successful food & agtech startups, and leading industry players in the sector. Whether you want to explore entrepreneurship, build new skills, or scale your research impact, GFVP is designed to help you grow as a young professional.
The programme is structured in three main stages:
- Introduction to Food Systems (SPOC)
An eight-week online course that introduces the scientific, technical, and social aspects of today’s food systems and value networks. - Pathways to Impact (P2I)
A six-week online course that helps you build an entrepreneurial mindset, craft value propositions, and improve your communication and pitching skills. - From Impact to Realisation (I2R)
An advanced programme — including a face-to-face bootcamp in Barcelona — that covers innovation strategies, business planning, leadership, intellectual property, funding, and team building.
On top of the core courses, students take part in a 3–6 months industry internship to gain hands-on experience and receive one-on-one mentoring tailored to their goals. Completing all programme stages earns you the EIT Label, a prestigious qualification formally recognised as part of your PhD diploma supplement.
GFVP Benefits:
- Boost your employability by building entrepreneurial and innovation skills.
- Gain hands-on experience through pitch events, workshops, and real-world collaborations.
- Explore business creation and validate market needs for your ideas.
- Tap into a uniqueEuropean network of researchers, startups, companies, investors, and alumni.
- Access mentoring and expert advice to help you navigate everything from IP strategy to funding and leadership.
- Earn the EIT Label Certificate, a mark of excellence recognised across Europe.
GFVP's ultimate goal is to empower PhD students to tackle urgent global issues. By 2050, the world will need to feed 10 billion people sustainably. Right now, a third of all food is wasted, the food sector generates over 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and we face huge inequalities in nutrition and health. These challenges are big - but they also open opportunities for innovation. GFVP equips PhD students with the necessary skills and mindset to turn research into action, helping meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and tap into a European agrifood innovation space worth an estimated $200 billion by 2030.
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