CROSSPATHS Autumn School – Innovative Approaches for Safe Healthy and Sustainable Food

24-26 November 2025, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal

Join us for three inspiring days where researchers come together to explore the future of food, health, and the bioeconomy. Through hands-on teamwork, mentoring, and real industry challenges, participants will develop creative solutions and strengthen their entrepreneurial skills, within an international environment.

Day 1 – Introduction & Challenges

The Autumn School opens with an introduction to its goals and opportunities. Participants discover the CROSSPATHS project and explore the latest perspectives in research and innovation across food, health, and the bioeconomy. A hands-on ideation session introduces the creative process of turning research into new business ideas, with a special focus on food technology. Students are then presented with real-life case challenge from Tecmafoods, a company that works with insect-based food & feed, which will form the heart of their team projects. After receiving guidance on co-creation and pitch preparation, participants form their teams. The first day also includes an exclusive visit to Tecmafoods, offering behind-the-scenes insights into the food innovation industry.

Day 2 – Teamwork & Mentoring

Day two is dedicated to collaborative problem-solving and professional mentoring. Working in teams, participants dive deeper into the Tecmafoods challenge, supported by mentors who provide expert advice on ideation, market research, and solution development. In the afternoon, the focus shifts to communication: a pitch training workshop equips participants with essential tools to deliver impactful and persuasive presentations. With new skills, teams return to their projects, applying feedback to sharpen their solutions and prepare for the final pitch.

Day 3 – Pitching & Closing

The final day is all about showcasing talent and celebrating achievement. Teams spend the morning putting the finishing touches on their pitches, working alongside mentors to ensure their presentations are polished and compelling. Each group then takes the stage to present its solution before a jury of external experts, who evaluate the creativity, impact, and business potential of the ideas. This is the moment for teams to demonstrate their progress and innovative thinking. Awards are presented to the best-performing team, followed by constructive feedback for all participants. The Autumn School concludes with closing remarks and a networking lunch — a chance to connect, share experiences, and celebrate new collaborations.