The SURES (Start-Ups for Research) Programme promotes entrepreneurship and supports the creation of innovative start-ups in the fields of Sustainable Agriculture, Green Biotechnology, Environmental and Life Sciences. It does so through the establishment of start-up incubators within each of the 8 JRC Research Units.
The programme launches calls for proposals open to members of the UNIgreen Academic Community, who submit their projects to the JRC Committee. It is supported by the Teaching, Research & Innovation Support Office and the International & Project Office.
JRC Committee members continuously monitor project development, identifying opportunities for start-up creation through ongoing evaluation and follow-up led by UNIgreen students, young researchers, and scientists.
In essence, the SURES Programme connects UNIgreen JRCs with support offices to engage students at different stages and guide them toward entrepreneurship.
JRCs identify advanced projects aligned with their strategic priorities and provide access to expertise, knowledge, and technological facilities necessary for start-up development.
In addition, participants benefit from support in developing soft skills and transversal competences through dedicated Skills and Mentoring Labs, organised in collaboration with the Knowledge Transfer & Society Office. This office also provides technical support, including access to facilities and organisational guidance for start-up creation.
SURES Innovation Challenges
The UNIgreen SURES Innovation Challenge is organised across partner universities, inviting students and recent graduates to turn bold ideas into impactful solutions.
The Challenge focuses on innovative projects in key areas such as:
- biotechnology
- sustainable agriculture
- environmental and life sciences
- food technology
- biodiversity
- agroecology
Designed to foster creativity and entrepreneurship, the Challenge supports participants in developing their ideas, testing new approaches, and contributing to the green transition. It offers a unique opportunity for both academic and professional growth while working on solutions that address real-world challenges.
The initiative also brings together participants from across the UNIgreen Alliance, encouraging international collaboration, interdisciplinary teamwork, and knowledge exchange. In doing so, it helps build a strong and connected community of young innovators.
Projects can be submitted at an early stage, even at the idea level, no prototype or market-ready solution is required. What matters most is a clear innovative approach, a solid scientific or technical foundation, and a vision for future development.
Local competitions at each partner university select finalists, who then compete in the UNIgreen Innovation Challenge Grand Final, held at SupBiotech in Paris on the 27-31 October 2026.