EU-LAC Digital Accelerator Open Call #6: Build a Digital Partnership With a Corporate in Europe or Latin America

he EU-LAC Digital Accelerator has opened its sixth call for corporate-startup partnerships between Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, with partnerships built around artificial intelligence as a priority. For digital agritech and food tech startups, it is a funded route to a real pilot with a corporate partner, and a door to some of the world's largest agricultural markets. Applications close on 30 November 2026.

Who: partnerships of a corporate with a digital challenge and a startup or SME with a solution, from the EU, Latin America or the Caribbean. What: a 6-month acceleration programme; in the previous call, services worth up to €30,000 and grants of up to €10,500 for the startup's proof of concept. Priority: AI. Deadline: 30 November 2026.

How it works

The EU-LAC Digital Accelerator is a five-year EU programme under the Global Gateway initiative. It does not fund startups on their own: it accelerates partnerships. Each application brings together a corporate that faces a product or process challenge and a startup or SME developing a digital solution for it.

Selected partnerships receive tailored acceleration services over six months. In open call #5, startups could also receive grants of up to €10,500 to run their proof of concept at the corporate's premises, covering development, travel and equipment. Check the call #6 guidelines for the current amounts.

No partner yet? Use the matching platform

Companies that do not yet have a partner can use the accelerator's matching platform, which lists more than 40 active corporate challenges and has account managers to help find a match. Start early: in the previous call, applications were processed on a first come, first served basis.

Why it matters for agrifood tech

Latin America is one of the world's agricultural powerhouses, and corporates there need digital tools for traceability, precision farming, supply chains and climate risk. A joint pilot with a corporate partner is often the fastest way into a new market and gives a startup the proof investors ask for.

Bulgarian companies in our network show how international pilots open doors: ONDO took its smart farming solutions to South Africa, and TRACEGROUND made food traceable from field to table with the country's largest retail chain. For a similar corporate-matching opportunity in Europe, read about the MassChallenge Sustainable Food Challenge 2027.

Three tips for a strong application

1. Define the corporate's problem first. The challenge drives the evaluation, not your technology.

2. Show the AI fit. This call prioritises AI partnerships; explain clearly what your AI does and what data it uses.

3. Make the pilot measurable. Agree in advance which result will prove success for both sides.

Find your next international opportunity

AgriVentures tracks EU, global and corporate innovation calls for agri-food in one place. Paste your website into our AI funding scanner to see which ones fit you, free and with no account. To receive new international and digital calls matched to your profile, choose the Tailored membership, with a 7-day free trial.

Sources: EU-LAC Digital Accelerator open call, EU Delegation announcement of call #6 (Ecosistema Startup), EEAS on open call #5, Lovguiden summary of call #5. Checked 8 November 2026.

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The role of Agriventures in supporting agrifood innovation

As the agritech startup ecosystem grows across Europe, initiatives such as Agriventures are helping connect entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and policymakers working in agriculture and food innovation.

Agriventures focuses on supporting agrifood startups, biotechnology innovation, and access to European funding for agriculture, while also helping entrepreneurs navigate the complex landscape of startup financing, venture capital, and research commercialization.

By strengthening connections between startups, research institutions, investors, and farmers, Agriventures contributes to building a stronger agricultural innovation ecosystem that can accelerate the transition toward sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems.

Through knowledge sharing, events, and ecosystem building, Agriventures helps ensure that promising agritech innovations can scale and reach farmers, food producers, and global markets.