IDEA COMPETITION
Green Leap Challenge 2026
Empowering Early Agrifood Founders with Moonshot Ideas - since 2005
Do you have an idea that could make a real difference for our planet while also creating a sustainable business? In partnership with Potter Clarkson, Rockstart Agrifood and BioInnovation Institute, we present The Green Leap Challenge - your chance to turn that idea from vision into reality and to win 50,000 DKK to help bring your idea to life.
At Food & Bio Cluster Denmark, we believe that entrepreneurs are important innovators and sustainable changemakers to our agrifood system. That is why we organise the Green Leap Challenge - a competition that gives entrepreneurs and researchers a platform to test and pitch their business ideas to experts and potential collaborators.
Beyond invaluable feedback, the most promising ideas also have the chance to win a prize of 50,000 DKK, which can be used directly to help bring the project to life - not to mention the exposure it will bring to the project!
Think of it as your opportunity to take the first big step: from laboratory concept or sketch to a solution that could change the way we produce and use resources.
This year, we welcome applications within these three themes:
- High-impact Biosolutions
- Resource-efficient Plant Production
- Resilient Agro-Food Systems
And you will not be alone - you will become part of a community of innovative entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry professionals committed to green transition and the bio-based economy.
Application details and key dates
Access everything you need to know about the Challenge – application criteria, how to submit, important deadlines, and the highlight of the competition: the award event.
The Prize
Three prizes of DKK 50,000 each will be awarded.
The prizes are personal and will be paid regardless of the subsequent commercialisation of the business idea. The prize money is subject to taxation.
The three winners will also be offered:
- Sparring and guidance on their business plan
- Access to contacts through our network
- Valuable input to support securing further funding from other sources
Who Can Apply?
Anyone with a novel business idea in the bio-based economy (agriculture, food, bioresources, bioenergy and environmental technology) may apply, provided no commercial sales have been made at the time of submission. Crowdfunding and similar activities are not considered sales. The idea should have a certain level of expertise.
You do not need a registered company to apply, and you are welcome to contact Christian Bugge Henriksen if you are unsure about eligibility.
Submission Date
Deadline: 20 November 2026 at 11:59 PM
Food & Bio Cluster Denmark ensures that all submitted projects are handled confidentially and stored securely. Participants will be notified once their project has been successfully received and registered.
How to Apply
To be eligible to win the competition, you must download the application form below, fill it out and submit it to us as a PDF by 20 November 2026.
The total description must not exceed 5 A4 pages. Appendices may be included.
The idea must be formulated as a business model (a visualisation of how the applicant will make money), and no sales should yet have been registered for the business concept.
Evaluation Criteria
All received proposals will be assessed based on the following:
TOPICALITY
Is your idea relevant to the bio-based economy, and does it address a current industry challenge?
TECHNOLOGICAL AND KNOWLEDGE BASED NEWS VALUE
Does the project introduce new knowledge or technology that can create added value?
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL
Is there a viable market, and can the idea be positioned among competitors?
FEASIBILITY
Can the idea be implemented technically and economically within a reasonable timeframe?
Important Dates
20 October:
Green Leap Challenge 2026 is live!
20 November:
Deadline for Green Leap Challenge applications
15 December:
The 9 finalists will be selected and informed
11 January 2027:
Pitching of the finalists at Green Leap Challenge Award event in Copenhagen
Celebrating the winning ideas
The winners of the Green Leap Challenge 2026 will be announced at the Green Leap Challenge Award event on 11 January 2027. More details to come!
Finalists will present their ideas live on stage, and the audience will play an active role by selecting one winner in each category after the pitches.
The event will celebrate innovation, collaboration, and the ambition to shape a greener future!
Date:
11 January 2027
Time:
More info soon
Venue:
More info soon
250M+ EUR raised by participants since 2005
- 4Life Solutions
- Agrain
- Agrointelli
- Aminic
- Beyond Leather Materials
- Cellugy
- Chromologics
- Consibio
- Decameal
- Enorm Biofactory
- Farrowtech
- Faunaphotonics
- Faunasmart Technologies
- Fieldsense/Cordulus
- FÆRM
- HPNow
- Kaffe Bueno
- LactoLink
- LED Lifestock
- Lyras
- Nordetect
- Plantjammer
- Porcovision
- SBT Instrument
- Spectro Inlets
- SymbioMatch
- Tracezilla
- True Gum
- Unibio
- Upfood
- Visibuilt
- Wholi food
- BerryFresh
- Yngvik
- NanoGuard
- Launch Bioindustries
- Collaborome
- Biomimica
- ...2026??
- Being named one of the winners of Green Leap Challenge 2025 has given us a huge boost and plenty of energy for the many hours we’re now about to spend in the lab. It’s a great recognition of the work we’re doing with Collaborome, and we’re excited to build on the momentum the competition has given us. Pitching in front of so many industry professionals was also a fun and valuable learning experience - it’s really inspired us to keep pushing forward.
Collaborome - oprindelse fra Københavns Universitet
Submit your application here
Deadline for submission: 20 November 2026 at 11:59 PM
Want to know more?
If you have any questions about the Green Leap Challenge, please contact:
Christian Bugge Henriksen
In partnership with
