Question 1

What EU grants are available for the Food Technology sector?

Accepted Answer

The European Commission offers a wide range of funding opportunities specifically designed for the Food Technology sector. These include grants through Horizon Europe (the EU's flagship research and innovation programme with a budget of €95.5 billion), the European Innovation Council (EIC) which provides funding for breakthrough innovations, and various sector-specific initiatives. Funding types range from Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) with 100% funding rates, to Innovation Actions (IA) with 70% funding for companies, and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) for networking and coordination activities. Our database helps you find grants that match your organization's specific needs, project stage, and funding requirements.

Question 2

How do I apply for Food Technology grants from the EU?

Accepted Answer

Applying for EU grants in the Food Technology sector involves several key steps. First, use Grantalist to identify suitable open calls that match your project idea and organization type. Next, carefully review the call documentation, including eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria, and the work programme. Most EU grants require you to form a consortium with partners from at least 3 different EU member states or associated countries. Once ready, you'll submit your proposal through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, which includes a detailed description of your project, work packages, budget breakdown, and impact assessment. The evaluation process typically takes 3-5 months, after which successful applicants enter grant agreement preparation. We recommend starting your application at least 2-3 months before the deadline.

Question 3

What is the typical funding amount for Food Technology EU grants?

Accepted Answer

EU grants for the Food Technology sector offer diverse funding levels depending on the programme and action type. Small-scale grants through programmes like EIC Accelerator can start from €500,000 up to €2.5 million in grant funding, plus up to €15 million in equity investment. Collaborative research projects under Horizon Europe typically range from €3 million to €10 million for standard projects, while some large-scale flagship initiatives can exceed €20 million. SMEs and startups often benefit from higher funding rates (up to 70% for Innovation Actions compared to large companies) and access to specialized instruments. The exact amount depends on the specific call topic, project scope, consortium size, and type of activities proposed.

Question 4

Who is eligible for Food Technology EU grants?

Accepted Answer

Eligibility for Food Technology EU grants extends to a wide range of organizations. Legal entities from EU member states and associated countries (including the UK for some programmes, Norway, Switzerland, and others) are typically eligible. This includes universities and research institutions, large enterprises and multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 250 employees, startups and scale-ups, public bodies and NGOs, and international organizations. Some calls specifically target certain organization types, such as SME-only calls or academic-focused research grants. Third-country participation is possible in many programmes, though often without EU funding.

EU Grants for Food Technology

Digital twins and/or their major components for environment, climate and security

Consolidation of the research infrastructure landscape – pilots for strategic coordination, synergies and simplified access pathways, by large thematic clusters of pan-European research infrastructures

Centres of Vocational Excellence

Microbiome for early cancer prediction before the onset of disease

Bioeconomy policy support hub for Member States, regions and sectors

Developing managed aquifer recharge techniques (MAR) in a rural context

Understanding biomass flows in Europe

Developing methods to assess the presence, functions and sensitivity of groundwater ecosystems

Advancing integrated scenarios and prediction models for informing transition to a nature positive society

Pushing the frontier of knowledge and conservation action for deep sea ecosystems

Boosting agrobiodiversity for food security and sustainable competitiveness

Improving circularity of multilayer flexible plastic food contact packaging

Supporting pre-normative research for standardization of the bio-based products

Advancing the European bio-based innovation enabled by biotechnology and biomanufacturing concepts

Balancing food security, bioeconomy, climate and biodiversity objectives to unlock sustainable value chains

Understanding and tackling the decline of insects

Joint demonstration of solutions to build soil resilience to extreme weather events and support food security

Monitoring soil health in practice: equipping stakeholders to sample, analyse, and interpret soil health indicators

Antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic biosynthesis in soils: developing key understanding and counteractive strategies using a One-Health approach

By fishers, for fishers: co-management of marine and freshwaters ecosystems and resources

Fostering competences for the green transition

Improving capabilities of law enforcement to counter climate-related challenges

Additional activities for the European Partnership of Agriculture of Data

Automated Scientific Discovery (RAISE pilot) (RIA)

Automated Scientific Discovery – Food (RAISE pilot)

Demand-side 3C pilot demonstrators on converged Telco Edge Cloud Infrastructure (IA)

Renewable Energy Valleys in Africa to increase energy security and energy access in Africa

Living labs to enhance soil health in Continental, Black Sea, Pannonian and Steppic biogeographical regions

Strengthening plant health: addressing emerging plant pest risks

Innovative biotechnologies to restore soil health and improve agricultural competitiveness and resilience

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Technology EU Grants