Food Connect Berlin launched on 15 September at the CIC Innovation Campus in Berlin-Alt-Treptow, welcoming over 250 guests. Representatives from the food sector, hospitality, food tech, agriculture, retail, academia, startups, tourism and public administration came together to make new connections, initiate collaborations and discuss the future of Berlin as a hub for food and nutrition.
Food Connect Berlin is designed as a long-term platform for Berlin’s regional and international food sector. Its aim is to connect stakeholders from across the food system, enhance their visibility and foster new collaborations. CIC Berlin serves as the “Home for Food Connect,” while Food Embassy, an agency based at the campus, is responsible for the platform’s continued development. Food Connect Berlin was initiated by the Berlin Senate Department for Justice and Consumer Protection as part of the Berlin Food Strategy. During its initial development phase, the platform is supported by the C40 Cities network.
A new hub for Berlin’s food sector
The Berlin Senate Department for Justice and Consumer Protection underlines the importance of the new platform:
“Berlin has a diverse and innovative food sector whose new ideas and products resonate far beyond the city and which is also an important economic driver for Berlin. As we continue to develop the Berlin Food Strategy, this new hub provides a platform that strengthens connections among companies and other stakeholders in the food sector, creates space for dialogue and new collaborations, and raises their visibility. Together with the regional food sector, we are thereby providing important momentum for Berlin’s development as a future-ready and attractive food hub.”
Panel discussions, pitch room and international expo
Two panel discussions moderated by Dinah Hoffmann addressed key questions concerning Berlin as a food hub. The first panel, “Food Made in Berlin – Why Do We Need a Shared Umbrella Brand?”, explored how a common identity could raise the visibility of Berlin’s food sector. The second panel, “Culinary Destinations for Berlin – What Role Do Market Halls, Weekly Markets and Food Courts Play?”, examined the importance of urban food venues for retail, hospitality, social interaction and innovation.
In the pitch room organised by crowdfoods – Food Entrepreneur & Startup Association (FESA) : Roots Radicals , Berlin Farms Gmbh , samwa.ai and Neurospice l Season with Reason presented their concepts. Roots Radicals won the award for best pitch: five days of exhibition space at Grüne Woche 2027.
Another highlight was the Food Connect Expo, which featured 25 companies and brands. Alongside numerous exhibitors from Berlin-Brandenburg, companies from other parts of Germany as well as Lithuania, Denmark, Brazil, Finland, Botswana and Canada took part. The exhibits showcased approaches in areas including fermentation, food tech, alternative proteins, urban production and innovative food-service solutions.
Food Embassy to lead the platform’s continued development
Berlin-based agency Food Embassy conceived the launch event and will lead the organisational and strategic development of Food Connect Berlin going forward. Holger Böckner, founder of Food Embassy, explains:
“We were among the first tenants at CIC Berlin with a focus on food, which makes us all the more thrilled to now play a key role in developing this important project for the city together with the Berlin Senate Department for Justice and Consumer Protection and CIC Berlin. Food Connect Berlin is intended to bring together the interests and activities of different stakeholders, raise their visibility and forge new connections. Internationally, Berlin sets a benchmark for innovation, sustainable food systems and culinary diversity. We must harness this potential and provide targeted support for Berlin-based companies.”
FoodTech as a cross-sector field of innovation
Located at the CIC Innovation Campus, Food Connect Berlin is based in an environment where food innovation intersects with other fields of technology and innovation. Timon Rupp, Managing Director of CIC Germany Innovation Services GmbH, says:
“We are delighted that Food Connect Berlin has chosen the CIC Innovation Campus as its home. FoodTech is a cross-sector field of innovation which lies at the intersection of life sciences, biotechnology, health, logistics, AI and sustainability. This convergence of different DeepTech sectors is exactly what we seek to foster at CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center). Food Connect Berlin creates a new hub for this purpose, providing access to our international network of startups, companies, academic institutions and investors.”
Looking ahead, CIC’s global locations will unlock expanded opportunities to connect with international corporate partners, researchers, and investors. The launch event included welcoming remarks from partner hubs in St. Louis, Philadelphia, and Tokyo.
From launch event to lasting community
The opening event marks the beginning of a long-term community platform. CIC Berlin will host workshops, specialist events, meetups and product presentations. The next programme activities will begin in October, starting on 5 October with a workshop on organic food wholesale led by Liss Barta, a member of pack&satt – vegane Fertiggerichte management team. Regular community breakfasts are also planned, along with sessions on food regulations, digital law, internationalisation, social media and digital communications.
Combined with dedicated workshop, networking, and exhibition space at CIC Berlin, this infrastructure ensures Food Connect Berlin operates as a continuous engine of support for the city’s food ecosystem well beyond standalone events.
