Advanced Course
1st Mediterranean Food Entrepreneurship Week
- 22-26 June 2026
- Face-to-face (Zaragoza)
- 976 716 000
- iamz@iamz.ciheam.org
With the Technical Support of
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ADVANCED COURSE
Economic and social development is closely linked to the existence of a solid, dynamic, and competitive business sector. Business creation constitutes the foundation of sustainable economic growth, as it generates employment, stimulates innovation, and strengthens the resilience of productive systems. To achieve this, countries must actively encourage entrepreneurial vocations, which requires not only appropriate regulatory frameworks and incentives, but also educational and cultural conditions that are conducive to entrepreneurship, fostering initiative, creativity, and responsible risk-taking from early stages of education.
In the economy of the twenty-first century, support for entrepreneurship has become a new global paradigm, reflected in the emergence of numerous public and private initiatives aimed at the creation, acceleration, financing, and consolidation of new ventures, including start-ups and innovation-driven spin-offs. Increasing attention is being paid to female entrepreneurship, recognising its significant contribution to economic growth, social cohesion, and inclusive development. At the same time, entrepreneurship—particularly through start-ups and spin-offs rooted in knowledge, research, and technology transfer—is increasingly associated with innovation, acting as a key driver for addressing current economic, social, and environmental challenges and for advancing towards more sustainable and competitive development models.
The Mediterranean Food Entrepreneurship Week, which will take place at CIHEAM Zaragoza, aims to respond to these needs by developing a new generation of entrepreneurs, with the active contribution of several partner institutions. Through a dynamic and participatory environment, the programme combines theoretical sessions, practical workshops, ideation activities, and visits to companies. By facilitating encounters for the exchange of best practices and mentoring sessions, and by leveraging the complementary expertise of its partners, this initiative serves as a regional platform to empower change-makers across the Mediterranean.
Course objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Scale up and consolidate micro-enterprises and start-ups by adopting a robust entrepreneurial framework that ensures both economic viability and environmental sustainability.
- Foster a new generation of leaders through peer learning, ideation processes, and mentoring sessions with experts and established business actors.
- Engage effectively with youth and women in the Global South, contributing to the creation of resilient employment opportunities and improved food security in rural areas.
- Address and promote investment aligned with the key priorities of Mediterranean agrifood systems.
Course coordination
Registration
Candidates may apply online at the following address: https://admission.iamz.ciheam.org/en/
Applications must include a curriculum vitae, a business model and a motivation letter describing the applicant’s entrepreneurial project and stating potential challenges and solutions as well as its innovative, economic, social, and technological impact.
Candidates are required to create a video of no more than one minute about their company or project and include the link to YouTube or similar platform in the application form.
Applicants undertaking entrepreneurial projects already at an advanced stage are required to provide information about the project, the sector, stage of development, and next steps.
Applicants running young businesses (less than 5 years) are required to provide basic information: sector, place and year of creation, founders’ capital, external funding, turnover and recent results, innovation elements, number of employees, and website.
The deadline for the submission of applications is 12 March 2026.
Applications from candidates requiring authorisation to attend the course may be accepted provisionally.
Registration fees for the course amount to 500 euro. This sum covers tuition fees only.
FAQs
Who should attend
The course is designed for a maximum of 20 participants The programme is designed for entrepreneurs and start-ups from the food sector in the Mediterranean and beyond, running businesses at different stages of maturity: a) well-advanced entrepreneurial projects and b) early-stage companies less than 5 years old. Selection of candidates will be based on their businesses’ growth potential, and innovative, technological, economic, and social impact. 20 places will be available for face-to-face participation.
Guest lecturers
The programme will be delivered by top-level experts from universities, international organisations, a chamber of commerce, a regional administration, business associations, a High-Tech incubator, and consulting firms from different countries.
Course format and approach
This course requires personal work and interaction among participants and with experts. The international characteristics of the programme favour the exchange of experiences and points of view. Theoretical sessions are illustrated by applied examples, practical workshops, mentoring activities, analysis of the start-ups by the participants themselves, pitch sessions, visits to local businesses, entrepreneur incubators and innovative firms.
Scholarships
Candidates from Albania, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia and Türkiye may apply for scholarships covering registration fees, and for scholarships covering the cost of travel and full board accommodation in Zaragoza. If you wish to apply for financial support, please complete the scholarship section in the application form.
Insurance
It is compulsory for participants to have medical insurance valid for Spain and proof of insurance cover must be provided at the beginning of the course. Those who so wish may participate in a collective insurance policy taken out by the Organisation, upon payment of the stipulated sum.
