The 2026 AU-EU-Med Innovation Fair on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) will take place on Wednesday, 25 November 2026, at CIHEAM Bari, Italy, and online. Under the theme 'Turning results into market successes', the Fair will bring together innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and development partners from Africa, Europe and the Mediterranean to accelerate the uptake, commercialisation and scale-up of innovative solutions emerging from collaborative research and innovation.
Building on the success of previous editions in Nairobi (2022), Cape Town (2023), Cairo (2024) and Brussels (2025), the 2026 edition has a dedicated focus on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA). As a flagship event of the Mediterranean Innovation Agrifood Week, it aims to bridge the gap between research results and investment opportunities by connecting high-potential innovations with public and private investors, development finance institutions, philanthropic organisations, accelerators and business support organisations.
The AU-EU-Med Innovation Fair contributes to the implementation of key regional research and innovation policy initiatives, including the AU-EU Innovation Agenda (2023–2033), the AU-EU Partnership on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Research and Innovation Roadmaps, and the New Pact for the Mediterranean. Taking place shortly after the second AU-EU R&I Ministerial Meeting, the Fair will provide an important platform to showcase how research and innovation can strengthen sustainable food systems, resilient value chains and economic development across Africa, Europe and the Mediterranean.
The Fair will feature innovative solutions from collaborative AU-EU and Euro-Mediterranean research and innovation projects with market-ready outputs and outcomes and innovative, science-based and deep-tech start-ups and SMEs developing transformative solutions in the priority areas of FNSSA.
The event will run as a full-day hybrid programme (9:00 am – 7:00 pm), combining:
High-level policy sessions;
Two-minute innovation pitches from selected R&I projects and start-ups;
An exhibition and matchmaking space featuring innovative solutions, investors, business support organisations and research initiatives;
Networking opportunities and awards for outstanding start-ups and SMEs.
The Fair is expected to welcome approximately 500 participants on-site, together with several hundred online attendees. Participants will include researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, investors, business support organisations, civil society organisations, policymakers and representatives of international organisations from Africa, Europe and the Mediterranean.
Registration and the Call for Expressions of Interest to participate in the Innovation Fair will open soon on this page.
Start-ups and SMEs will be invited to submit an Expression of Interest to pitch their innovative solutions during the Fair and compete for tailored business support and scale-up opportunities. General participant registration will also open shortly, with further information on participation, matchmaking opportunities and the event programme becoming available in the coming weeks.
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