Are you an entrepreneur or innovator in the food industry with a groundbreaking idea or technology that deserves recognition? The FoodTech Innovation Awards 2025 aims to celebrate the most innovative initiatives in the food sector, particularly those that revolutionize customer experience, business models, or management processes. These awards highlight solutions with the potential to transform the industry, showcasing the best innovations to a global audience.

As the food industry continues to evolve, recognizing outstanding achievements becomes vital. While online reviews and peer endorsements are valuable, third-party recognition through these awards provides an even higher level of credibility. The FoodTech Innovation Awards 2025 focuses on acknowledging organizations shaping the future of food and exposing their groundbreaking ideas to an audience of 100,000 readers, media outlets, and industry stakeholders. By promoting innovation, the awards aim to highlight the most impactful contributions the food sector has to offer.

Key Details and Dates

• Application Deadline: April 4, 2025
• Finalist Notification: From April 14, 2025
• Award Ceremony: May 14, 2025
• Organizer: Food 4 Future – Expo FoodTech
• Eligible Countries: Global, with a special focus on Spanish startups
• Target Group: Innovators, entrepreneurs, startups, and professionals in the food-tech sector
• Focus Areas: Food technology, sustainability, health, automation, robotics, packaging, digitalization
• Program Languages: English and Spanish
• Host Country: Spain (Bilbao)

Awards and Benefits

Finalists selected for the FoodTech Innovation Awards 2025 will receive the following benefits:

• An invitation to attend the exclusive award ceremony.
• A trophy recognizing their category win.
• Media coverage through Expo FoodTech channels and partners.
• A press release distributed to major economic and specialized media outlets.
• 5 Premium VIP Passes for access to the Food 4 Future Expo, VIP Lounge, and all Food 4 Future World Summit conferences.

Awards Categories

The FoodTech Innovation Awards 2025 features seven categories to recognize different aspects of innovation in the food-tech sector:

1. Innovative Solution on Digitalization for the Food and Beverage Industry:
   Rewards groundbreaking technological solutions that transform the industry using IoT, AI, cloud computing, biotechnology, and more.
2. Sustainability Project:
   Celebrates initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact, including projects focused on sustainable agriculture, climate change mitigation, circular economy, and waste reduction in packaging.
3. Healthy Food:
   Recognizes projects promoting healthier eating habits across the food value chain through innovative approaches.
4. Automation and Robotics Solution for the Food Value Chain:
   Highlights the use of robotics and automation to improve production efficiency and competitiveness in food manufacturing processes.
5. Disruptive Solution for the Packaging Industry:
   Honors innovative advancements in packaging solutions that drive sustainability and efficiency within the food sector.
6. Innovative Startup:
   Rewards startups offering revolutionary solutions in digitalization, sustainability, or health within the food-tech space.
7. Spanish Startup with the Greatest International Projection:
   Focuses on Spanish startups that have successfully addressed global food and beverage industry challenges with a significant international impact.

Eligibility Criteria

The FoodTech Innovation Awards welcomes participation from the following groups worldwide:

• Companies
• Universities
• Vendors
• Executives
• Business schools
• Scholars
• Researchers
• Analysts
• Journalists
• Startups and scale-ups
• Accelerators
• Science and tech parks
• Innovation centers

Restrictions:

• There is no limit to the number of entries submitted by an organization.
• Submissions must align with the event theme of Digital Transformation and the global digital economy.
• Entries containing abusive, defamatory, or false content will be immediately disqualified.

Selection Process and Criteria

The evaluation process consists of two main phases:

1. Phase 1: Regulation Compliance and Pre-Selection
   • The Evaluation Committee reviews entries to ensure compliance with the criteria.
   • Three candidates per category are shortlisted.
   • Pre-selected candidates will be notified via email.
   • Additional information may be requested, and entries can be re-categorized if necessary.
2. Phase 2: Winner Selection
   • The committee evaluates the pre-selected candidates to determine category winners.
   • Winners will be announced during the award ceremony on May 14, 2025, in Bilbao.
   • Pre-selected finalists will be notified starting April 14, 2025.
   • The committee’s decision is final and not subject to appeal.
   • Categories may remain vacant if no suitable candidates are identified.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Innovation: Degree of originality and creativity in the proposal.
• Leadership: Demonstrated impact and influence on the food-tech sector.
• Disruption: The extent to which the solution challenges traditional norms.
• Strategy: Clarity and effectiveness of implementation plans.
• Execution: Evidence of successful application or measurable outcomes.

How to Apply

1. Carefully review the award categories to determine the best fit for your innovation.
2. Submit your application via the official Food 4 Future – Expo FoodTech platform by April 4, 2025.
3. Await notification for finalist selection starting April 14, 2025.
4. If chosen as a finalist, attend the award ceremony in Bilbao on May 14, 2025 (travel and accommodation costs are the responsibility of finalists).

Apply Now

Further details and information regarding the Awards are available on the official Food 4 Future website.