For Munich agrifood startups facing concrete challenges in operations, sustainability, or productivity, Gate 5.0 offers an interesting opportunity to secure funding: The European-funded project has launched an open call and links it with a matchmaking process in March and April 2026. Those who collaborate with a suitable technology partner can develop a joint innovation project and secure €118,500 in funding. However, applications are only possible as a consortium. Teams consisting of at least one agrifood company and one technology company are sought. Individual applications are excluded.
For agrifood startups, this is particularly relevant when a clearly defined challenge already exists and technological support is needed for implementation. According to the project, agrifood companies should bring concrete operational, sustainability-related, or productivity-relevant challenges. Technology companies present digital services and technological expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence, networked systems, robotics, unmanned aerial systems, data analytics, and decision support.
Three steps to success
The first step is the matchmaking process: It runs over two months and is designed to bring both sides together strategically. Through the B2Match platform, participants can search for suitable partners and arrange bilateral meetings. These discussions are intended to help assess cooperation potential and feasibility of a joint project early on. This allows not only to build new contacts, but to structure the partner search within a defined framework for a potential application.
Three online information sessions are scheduled to accompany this, with the next one on April 7.
During the events, the focus will be on the goals and structure of Gate 5.0, the conditions of the open call, the matchmaking process, platform usage, and preparing a joint application. Two dates will additionally include thematic focuses on key challenges in the Agriculture 5.0 sector and on strengthening female entrepreneurs in agriculture.
So if you already know where to apply the technological lever in your own operation, you can use the matchmaking phase to build the right contacts early on.
Once interested parties have formed an eligible consortium, they submit their joint application in the final step by no later than April 30, 2026. According to the project, evaluation is planned for May and June 2026, and selected projects are to be notified in July 2026.
More information can be found on the Gate 5.0 website.
