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Track: Startups

Mon 23

11:00h

Conference | The Alimentaria Hub

Learn how to protect your brand with us!

Lucia Mendiola OEPM Trademark Examiner Speaker

2026-03-23 11:00 2026-03-23 11:45 Europe/Madrid Learn how to protect your brand with us!

In this session, we will share practical insights on how to protect brands and turn them into a strategic asset for any company. We will explain how to simplify the procedures and make them more accessible for SMEs and entrepreneurs, helping them strengthen their identity and compete more effectively in the market.

Agora By AECOC - The Alimentaria Hub

11:00h - 11:45h Agora By AECOC - The Alimentaria Hub Free access

11:30h

Presentation | Fira Food and Hospitality Startups

FOOD CORPORATES Summit / HOSTELCO CORPORATES Summit

Alejandro Arranz Mahou San Miguel New Technologies Manager Speaker

Angelo Ferrara Holle baby food AG General Director Speaker

Beatriz Gómez Encarna Group - La Finca Key Account Manager Speaker

Beatriz Mesas Incapto Coffee Founder & CPO (Chief Product Officer) Speaker

Christopher Aguilar La Martinuca Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Speaker

Gustavo Alonso Isla Délice Country Manager Speaker

Jordi Caballero Europastry R&D Bread Director Speaker

José María Cobo TranXforma Food CEO Speaker

Lorena Salcedo VEGETALES Representative Speaker

Lucas Irisarri Enhol Alimentación Food Strategy & business Development Manager Speaker

2026-03-23 11:30 2026-03-23 14:00 Europe/Madrid FOOD CORPORATES Summit / HOSTELCO CORPORATES Summit

Morning session where corporates from both sectors will present their challenges and their engagement programmes with the entrepreneurial ecosystem to identify solutions that can make them more competitive through collaboration with third parties (open innovation)

Pitching point

11:30h - 14:00h Pitching point Free access

Tue 24

10:15h

Round Table | Fira Food and Hospitality Startups

Future of Nutrition & Digital Wellness Summit

Adrià Galdeano Atomite Founder & CEO Speaker

Antoni López FemmeUp Business Development Speaker

Eduardo Liviano Byld Building Manager Speaker

Noa Altés Barcelona Health Hub Event Manager Moderador

2026-03-24 10:15 2026-03-24 11:00 Europe/Madrid Future of Nutrition & Digital Wellness Summit

A round-table discussion to discuss innovative projects currently being developed in the beauty and health sectors, which are closely linked to nutrition.

Pitching point

10:15h - 11:00h Pitching point Free access

11:00h

Presentation | Fira Food and Hospitality Startups

FOOD CORPORATES Summit / HOSTELCO CORPORATES Summit

Alba García Grupo Empresarial Costa Manager of Corporate R&D&I Speaker

Begoña Varona Grupo APEX R&D Project Manager Speaker

Fernando Santiago Bühler Group Technology & Startup Scouting Speaker

Francisco Álvarez Ron Hijos de Rivera Innovation Project Manager Speaker

Hernán Hernández Gloop Co-founder Speaker

José Antonio Rísquez Salas COVAP Innovation and Business Development Manager Speaker

Juan Francisco Carrillo Bagazitos CoFounder Speaker

Laura Gil S.A. DAMM Chief Digital and Data Officer Speaker

Rubén González Mahou San Miguel Lead in entrepreneurship Speaker

Xavier Arola GBSB Global Head of Careers and Entrepreneurship Services Speaker

2026-03-24 11:00 2026-03-24 12:45 Europe/Madrid FOOD CORPORATES Summit / HOSTELCO CORPORATES Summit

Pitching point

11:00h - 12:45h Pitching point Free access

12:45h

Pitch | Fira Food and Hospitality Startups

Presentation of Challenges by Attendees at the Open Innovation Challenge

Adriana Gálvez Fundació Alícia Project Manager Speaker

Aida García Fruselva - Maser Grup Project manager Speaker

Amaya Prat Ametller Origen Sustainability & RDi Manager Speaker

Haydee Compean Frit Ravich Innovation Strategy Speaker

José Antonio Moreno LABORATORIOS ORDESA Researcher Speaker

Josep Batet Familia Torres Open innovation manager Speaker

Lurdes Mochales ACCIÓ International Open Innovation Manager Moderador

Montse Jodar Grup Cacaolat Innovation Manager & Chief Marketing Speaker

Olga Gonzalez Dallant R&D Manager in food industry Speaker

Palina Lokazyuk Incapto Sustainability Lead Speaker

Santi Bonet Novacoop Mediterranea Director of Communication, Sustainability, and Institutional Relations Speaker

Silveri Florenza Puratos Plant Manager Speaker

Valeri Salgot Embotits Salgot General Director Speaker

Xavier Rubies We’R Foods - Friselva R&D Area Director Speaker

2026-03-24 12:45 2026-03-24 14:00 Europe/Madrid Presentation of Challenges by Attendees at the Open Innovation Challenge

The Open Innovation Challenges are business meetings organized by ACCIÓ that aim to connect companies and public entities seeking innovative solutions with those offering technology.
In this session, the corporations and entities from the Food Industry that have issued a challenge and are participating in the Open Innovation Challenge Alimentaria 2026 will present their challenges through short pitches.

Pitching point

12:45h - 14:00h Pitching point Free access

15:00h

Presentation | Fira Food and Hospitality Startups

La Vega Innova, the project that will shape the future of the agri-food industry

Diego Braojos Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación Digitalisation Coordinator Speaker

2026-03-24 15:00 2026-03-24 15:15 Europe/Madrid La Vega Innova, the project that will shape the future of the agri-food industry

Presentation of La Vega Innova as a driving force for change in the agricultural sector, bringing together start-ups, experts, researchers and investors to tackle the most significant challenges spanning from crop farming to livestock farming.

Pitching point

15:00h - 15:15h Pitching point Free access

15:15h

Presentation | Fira Food and Hospitality Startups

Innovation session

Brigitte Martínez IRTA Innovation Specialist, Food Quality and Technology Programme Speaker

Elena Fulladosa IRTA Researcher in the Food Quality and Technology Programme Speaker

2026-03-24 15:15 2026-03-24 15:45 Europe/Madrid Innovation session

A session organised by the Institute for Agri-Food Research and Technology, during which two projects in the field of processed foods with a strong innovative component will be presented.

Pitching point

15:15h - 15:45h Pitching point Free access

15:30h

Conference | Fira Food and Hospitality Startups

Pitching Day

2026-03-24 15:30 2026-03-24 16:30 Europe/Madrid Pitching Day - Conference Room by Acciona - The Alimentaria Hub

15:30h - 16:30h Conference Room by Acciona - The Alimentaria Hub Free access

15:45h

Pitch | Fira Food and Hospitality Startups

Presentation of startups and tech providers at the Open Innovation Challenge

Ana Simon Villacampa ACCIÓ Open Innovation and Disruption Manager. Catalonia Exponential Speaker

2026-03-24 15:45 2026-03-24 17:00 Europe/Madrid Presentation of startups and tech providers at the Open Innovation Challenge

The Open Innovation Challenges are business meetings organized by ACCIÓ that aim to connect companies and public entities seeking innovative solutions with those offering technology.
The startups and technology providers that have contributed their solutions applicable to the Food Industry and are participating in the Open Innovation Challenge Alimentaria 2026 will present their technology offerings through short pitches.

Pitching point

15:45h - 17:00h Pitching point Free access

16:30h

Awards Ceremony | Fira Food and Hospitality Startups

Food & Hospitality Startups Awards Ceremony

2026-03-24 16:30 2026-03-24 17:00 Europe/Madrid Food & Hospitality Startups Awards Ceremony

Awards gala where prizes will be presented to the most innovative startup and the one with the strongest track record.

Conference Room by Acciona - The Alimentaria Hub

16:30h - 17:00h Conference Room by Acciona - The Alimentaria Hub Free access

Wed 25

10:00h

Presentation | Fira Food and Hospitality Startups

How the TECNIO transfer model helps to boost startups

Manuel Palacín TECNIO CEO Speaker

2026-03-25 10:00 2026-03-25 10:15 Europe/Madrid How the TECNIO transfer model helps to boost startups

Presentation of the TECNIO accreditation, awarded by ACCIÓ, aimed at university research groups and those within the CERCA system (such as IRTA). Start-ups and spin-offs often emerge from these research groups and benefit from the existing infrastructure within them.

Pitching point

10:00h - 10:15h Pitching point Free access

10:15h

Presentation | Fira Food and Hospitality Startups

Value-added plant-based foods: three real developments

Ingrid Aguiló IRTA Researcher in the Post-Harvest Programme Speaker

2026-03-25 10:15 2026-03-25 10:30 Europe/Madrid Value-added plant-based foods: three real developments

A presentation that explains three real-life projects involving value-added plant-based foods: in desserts, ready meals and drinks

Pitching point

10:15h - 10:30h Pitching point Free access

11:00h

Round Table | Fira Food and Hospitality Startups

Regulatory sandboxes for resilient food and hospitality systems.

Cristina Garrido CNTA Centro Nacional de Tecnología y Seguridad Alimentaria Food safety & training manager Speaker

Fernando Rivero Atova Regulatory Consulting Regulatory Scientist and Toxicologist Speaker

Glòria Cugat Generalitat de Catalunya General Sub-director for Agri-food Transfer and Innovation Speaker

Pablo Hernández Campofrío Sigma Global Innovation Manager Speaker

Patricia Larráyoz CNTA Centro Nacional de Tecnología y Seguridad Alimentaria Spain's AgriFoodTech Sandbox Manager Moderador

2026-03-25 11:00 2026-03-25 11:45 Europe/Madrid Regulatory sandboxes for resilient food and hospitality systems.

What is a regulatory sandbox and why can it accelerate agri-food innovation? This session will explain how these controlled environments allow solutions to be tested, generate evidence, and reduce uncertainty before scaling up. In addition, a specific case will be presented to help understand its practical application and real impact.

Pitching point

11:00h - 11:45h Pitching point Free access

11:45h

Round Table | Fira Food and Hospitality Startups

INVESTORS Summit

Carles Mayol Port de Barcelona Head of Container Department Speaker

Jose Miguel Flavian Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom Head of Foreign Trade Speaker

Marc Moreno ACCIÓ Internationalisation Consultant for the Agr-Food Sector Moderador

Maria Reig ACCIÓ Senior Consultant at the Miami Foreign Office Speaker

2026-03-25 11:45 2026-03-25 12:30 Europe/Madrid INVESTORS Summit

Executives from incubators, accelerators, VCs, investment funds, and business angels explore access to funding for startups and innovative projects, discussing key challenges for agri-food entrepreneurs and the impact of the current geopolitical situation.

Pitching point

11:45h - 12:30h Pitching point Free access

12:30h

Round Table | Fira Food and Hospitality Startups