The Strategic Role of University-Based Incubators in Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Agri-Food Tech: The AgrotecUV Model

In the context of the growing demand for sustainable innovation in the agri-food sector, this seminar will examine the structural and systemic barriers faced by R&D-based startups operating at the intersection of agriculture, food technology, and scientific research. It will present AgrotecUV, the high-tech incubator at the University of Valencia, as a case study in institutional support for early-stage innovation. Special attention will be given to the incubator’s role as a catalyst for technology transfer and its articulation of a knowledge-based ecosystem that bridges academic research, entrepreneurial initiative, and industrial application. The seminar will explore how AgrotecUV supports startups through collaborations with the University, fosters relational capital through targeted networking, and enables access to critical infrastructure, partnerships, and sectoral visibility. By analyzing selected success stories, the talk will reflect on the challenges of transforming scientific knowledge into sustainable economic value, while advancing broader reflections on innovation and entrepreneurship governance at the university–industry interface.

Speaker: Eva Bataller-Perelló ((Business Development Manager AgrotecUV – Innoagent IVACE+I). University of Valencia).

Sponsors: RCCHU; Harvard University; University of Valencia.