Agri Innovation Expo 2026 | Agricultural University of Athens Opens Its Doors to Agri-Food Innovation

Agri Innovation Expo 2026 | Agricultural University of Athens Opens Its Doors to Agri-Food Innovation

September 24 & 25 at the Museum of Agriculture of the Agricultural University of Athens

32 exhibitors – 19 research laboratories, 9 spin-offs and 4 innovative institutional initiatives in a two-day exhibition with free admission.

Where are the ideas that will shape the future of the agri-food sector born? How does a research discovery become a product, service or business that finds its way into the market?

Behind every new agri-food technology are people: researchers, young scientists and teams transforming knowledge into solutions that benefit production and society.

These are the people brought into the spotlight by Agri Innovation Expo 2026, organized for the third consecutive year by the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) on September 24 and 25, in the outdoor area of the Museum of Agriculture (75 Iera Odos), with free admission for the public from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Under the central theme “Cultivating a Better World,” the exhibition serves as a major meeting point for research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the agri-food sector, bringing together researchers, young scientists, businesses, producers, investors and the wider public.

This is not simply a static presentation of research results. It is a dynamic space for interaction, dialogue and collaboration, where visitors can engage directly with the people designing and developing the innovative solutions of tomorrow.

Where Research Meets the Market

Over two afternoons, the Agricultural University of Athens will showcase the full innovation ecosystem it has developed:

32 exhibitors in total:

• 19 AUA research laboratories presenting cutting-edge technologies and applications.
• 9 university spin-offs showcasing solutions that are already transferring academic knowledge to the market.
• 4 institutional initiatives of the University highlighting how research can be transformed into entrepreneurship and new collaborations.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore first-hand artificial intelligence applications for the primary sector, precision agriculture technologies, innovations in biotechnology and food technology, solutions for sustainable production and environmental protection, as well as successful examples of technology transfer from the laboratory to the real economy.

The Agricultural University of Athens Invests in Innovation through Openness and Collaboration

The Rector of the Agricultural University of Athens, Professor Emmanouil Flemetakis, notes that Agri Innovation Expo represents a tangible expression of the University's contemporary role in the development of the country:

“Agri Innovation Expo is an initiative that embodies, in the best possible way, the modern role of the Agricultural University of Athens: to generate knowledge and innovation and put them at the service of sustainable development. Through openness and collaboration, we aspire to make a meaningful contribution to the transformation of the agri-food sector and to shaping a better future for society and the environment.”

The Vice Rector for Research, Innovation and Lifelong Learning, Professor Thomas Bartzanas, emphasizes that the exhibition highlights the journey of university research from the laboratory to the real economy:

“Agri Innovation Expo showcases the power of university research to evolve into innovation with a tangible impact on the agri-food sector, the economy and society. At the Agricultural University of Athens, our goal is to strengthen the connection between knowledge, production and the market, fostering a more sustainable and technologically advanced future.”

Meet the People Behind the Innovation

Visitors will have the opportunity to engage directly with researchers and spin-off founders and to discover research outcomes that are either ready for practical application or are at an advanced stage of development.

Among the innovations and initiatives presented at the exhibition are:

• “Arethousa,” the first certified Greek oregano variety, developed through years of research by the AUA Institute for the Study and Promotion of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (INFAF).
• Innovative frost-risk forecasting tools for tree crops, providing producers with early warnings up to 48 hours in advance.
• Digital technologies for the entire agri-food value chain, including chatbots, computer vision and blockchain-based traceability.
• University spin-offs: Ce.B.Tec. I.K.E., ThermoDraft, S CUBE SOIL SYSTEMS SOLUTIONS, Key2Core, Smart Agro Hub, NUTRISENSE, GROWEDGE – AI-Powered Greenhouse Solutions (an Innovation Spin-off in Agricultural Biotechnology), FEED INNOVATIONS & TECHNOLOGIES, and EnzyCeuticals (Innovative Enzymes for Sustainable Industrial and Biotechnological Applications).
• AUA initiatives: the ELKE AUA Office of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer – InnovinAgri; EU-CONEXUS Plus: A significant step forward for the European University for Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability; the University Research and Innovation Center (PA.K.E.K.); and the Agricultural University of Athens Asset Management and Development Company S.A.

Event Programme

Thursday, September 24, 7:30 p.m. | Official Opening Ceremony
Greetings from political representatives and the leadership of the Agricultural University of Athens.

Friday, September 25, 5:30–6:30 p.m. | Panel Discussion: “From the Laboratory to Investment: Financing Innovation”

Friday, September 25, 7:00–8:00 p.m. | Panel Discussion: “The Support Ecosystem: Building Bridges between Academic Research and the Market”

The event is organized by the ELKE AUA Office of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer (InnovinAgri), as part of the “ROMVOS” Technology Transfer Collaboration Network.

Free Admission

Registration and the full programme are available at: https://agrinnovation.aua.gr/