Innovation Prizes

RIS Innovation Prizes is one of the largest startup competitions in the agrifood vertical in Southern and Eastern Europe.

RIS Innovation Prizes was open for applications in 2020. The competition will not reopen in 2021.

Prizes are awarded to entrepreneurs and early stage startups to support the development of new products and services which can help transform our food system, making it healthier, more sustainable and more trusted.  This year, Innovation Prizes are open to early stage entrepreneurs and startups from 17 countries in Southern and Eastern Europe. 

The prizes will be distributed at 17 online country finals with the three best startups taking €1,000, €3,000 and €5,000 in each final. In addition to the cash prizes, participating startups will benefit from high-quality training and expert feedback. 

The country finals will be organised online by EIT Food Hubs in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey.

The competition will conclude with the Grand Final during which the 1st prize winners from all 17 countries will compete for three main prizes: €10,000, €15,000 and €25,000.

Applications open: February 4 - May 24, 2020 via F6S website 

Evaluation process: May 25 - June 7, 2020

17 regional Demo Day finals will be held online between June and July 2020

Bootcamp training for the 1st prize winners of the 17 regional Demo Days - October 2020.

Grand Final for the 1st prize winners - November 2020.

Please refer to the competition Terms and Conditions for full details about the competition process and eligibility.