Innovation & Education

EIT Food offers a wide range of learning opportunities for students, professionals, and researchers to build skills, spark innovation, and create real-world impact across the food system.

As part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), EIT Food develops and delivers future-oriented courses and training programmes, many of which are open to participants from Latvia and the Baltic region.

You can find and apply for EIT Food courses on the official learning platform: https://learning.eitfood.eu/ 

EIT Food courses are available in multiple formats:

• Online courses (MOOCs) – open and free to anyone
• Professional training & summer schools
• Hybrid and in-person programmes across Europe
• University-accredited modules and PhD offerings

Popular programmes promoted in Latvia include:

• Inspire – Regenerative Agriculture: hands-on training combining sustainability and new technologies
• Inspire – Digital Food Systems: learn how digital tools transform the agrifood sector
• Algae Biotechnology: online course on algae biology and industrial applications
• Pathways to Impact for PhDs: entrepreneurial thinking and innovation skills for PhD students
• NPD Skills – New Product Development: learn how to bring a food idea from concept to shelf

Whether you want to specialise in food packaging, sustainability, biotechnology or digital transformation, EIT Food courses help you stay ahead of the curve.

EIT Label and Learning Outcomes

Many of EIT Food's educational programmes carry the official EIT Label – a quality seal awarded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. This label ensures that the courses:

• Are based on real-world challenges in the agrifood sector
• Promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability
• Provide interdisciplinary and international learning experiences
• Include a strong focus on communication, leadership, and systems thinking
• Help learners achieve recognised learning outcomes aligned with European standards

Learners who complete EIT-labelled programmes receive certificates that demonstrate not only subject-specific knowledge but also skills highly valued by employers and innovation ecosystems.

The EIT Label guarantees that you are not just learning — you are transforming.

Driving Innovation in the Food System

We drive open innovation to transform the food system by nurturing groundbreaking ideas through the world’s largest food innovation network.

Whether you’re part of a university, startup, SME, or industry, EIT Food can support your innovation journey with funding, collaboration, and commercialisation tools.

Open Innovation Opportunities

• Fast Track to Market – up to €250,000 for near-market solutions
• Impact Funding Framework – for long-term, scalable innovation projects
• Marketed Innovation Prize – €10,000 for top food innovations
• IP Garden – access to technologies developed through EIT Food projects

Explore Innovation Opportunities

Featured Projects – including Latvia

• Fermentful (Latvia) – Innovative plant-based functional beverages from fermented green buckwheat. A woman-led startup developing dairy-free kefir alternatives rich in probiotics and nutrients.
  Participated in: EIT Food Accelerator Network (FAN)
• WEDBOT (Latvia) – AI-powered smart robot for greenhouse climate monitoring and decision support
  A hardware-software solution supporting sustainable, data-driven horticulture.
  Participated in: EIT Jumpstarter

Explore more EIT Food innovation projects

Our 6 Focus Innovation Areas

Delivered through collaboration between industry, research and education partners:

1. Protein Diversification
2. Circular Food Systems
3. Digital Traceability
4. Sustainable Agriculture
5. Sustainable Aquaculture
6. Targeted Nutrition

Read more

EIT Food’s Missions

Our innovation and education efforts are guided by three Missions designed to deliver real impact:

• Healthier Lives Through Food
  Empowering consumers with healthier choices and accessible food
   
• Reducing Risk for a Fair and Resilient Food System
  Building secure, traceable, and robust food supply chains
   
• Net Zero Food System
  Supporting the transition to a climate-neutral food system
   

Why a Missions-led approach?

EIT Food is a community committed to solving the most pressing food system challenges. Join us to shape the future of food.