The BTEM awards seek out the most innovative companies in the food sector in the Basque Country

• The call for entries for the fourth edition of the awards, promoted by AZTI and BASQUE FOOD CLUSTER, is open until 13 March
• The Basque Food Innovation Awards recognise the work and efforts of Basque companies in the design and development of new products, processes and marketing strategies

Bilbao, 25 January 2024. The BTEM Basque Food Innovation Awards, promoted by AZTI and BASQUE FOOD CLUSTER, opened the call for entries for its fourth edition on 25 January, with the aim of recognising the work and efforts made by Basque companies in the food sector.

To this end, in line with the three strategic areas of action defined in the Basque Government’s Economic and Competitiveness Strategy, the initiative has three different categories: Technological Innovation, Business Innovation and Market Innovation.

The first, Technological Innovation, recognises the successful development and launch of a new or improved product or service. The second, Business Innovation, recognises the implementation of new or significantly improved production, logistics, distribution or support activities. New organisational methods not previously applied by the company are also included in this category. The third category, Innovation in Markets, is intended to recognise companies that have implemented new strategies or commercial concepts that have led to a significant improvement in market or channel expansion, as well as the business’s internationalisation.

“These awards are a great opportunity to promote the Basque Country as a benchmark in food innovation and the companies that make it possible, while at the same time encouraging new ideas that create value in the environment and in a sector that is so important for society as a whole,” said Bittor Oroz, Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Policy and President of AZTI.

The three categories, which are also included in the Strategic Plan of the Basque Food Cluster and AZTI, take into account the impact and foreseeable future development of the innovation, as well as its contribution to a more sustainable world (social and environmental development, human rights, etc.).

Awards ceremony at Food 4 Future

The jury in charge of evaluating the applications is made up of Carolina Pérez, President of CEBEK, Leire Bilbao, CEO of INNOBASQUE, and a representative of AECOC, as well as the managers of the winning companies from the previous edition (2022): La Cocina de Senén (technological innovation), Goxorrubi (business innovation) and Casa Eceiza (innovation in markets).

Food 4 Future, a leading international forum for the food and beverage industry co-organised by AZTI, will be held at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre from 16 to 18 April 2024. This event will be the perfect setting for the Awards Ceremony, offering the winning companies a unique opportunity to create synergies with other leading players in the agri-food industry.

“The aim of the awards is also to become a meeting point for the sector, bringing together the different agents that make up the food value chain in the Basque Country”, concludes Manu Giner, president of BASQUE FOOD CLUSTER.