The intensive week of the SHIFT – Strategic Synergies in Agro-Food: A Holistic Journey Through Innovation, Sustainability, and Entrepreneurship has come to a successful close at the Escola Superior de Biotecnologia (ESB) of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in Porto. The experience was widely praised as both innovative and highly rewarding.
This international programme, funded by the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), is led by ESB-UCP and brings together the Universities of Zagreb (Croatia) and Bologna (Italy) in a consortium committed to excellence in education, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the agri-food sector.
The 2025 edition officially launched on 7 March with an online opening session and offered a blended learning pathway: six online sessions, offline modules as part of the YOUAREIN – YOUng AgRifood European INnovators project, and a one-week intensive on-site programme from 5 to 9 May, in Porto.
Throughout the on-site week, participants took part in practical sessions, interdisciplinary co-creation activities, technical visits to leading agri-food companies — such as Brasmar, Super Bock Group, and Taylor’s — and a range of networking opportunities. The programme culminated in group project presentations, which proposed innovative and sustainable solutions for the valorisation of underutilised products and agri-food by-products.
“We envisioned SHIFT as a transformative educational experience, bringing together science, creativity, and action in an international and collaborative environment. Seeing students from different countries work together with such energy, intelligence, and entrepreneurial spirit confirms that this is the right path to train global leaders for a more sustainable and innovative agri-food sector.” — Professor Cristina Luísa Silva
“SHIFT provided a unique learning experience, where academic knowledge met real-world challenges in the agri-food industry. The diversity of backgrounds and nationalities enriched every moment, showcasing the value of a programme that is at once interdisciplinary, hands-on, and deeply human.” — Professor Marta Coelho
SHIFT BIP 2025 once again highlighted the role of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa as a driving force for innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship in the agri-food value chain, promoting a transformative educational experience that bridges science, practice, and real-world impact.
