The AgriNext project is proud to announce a major milestone in its mission to support sustainable innovation in multifunctional agriculture. On 15th of October, the AgriNext Incubator, located at the Biotechnical Centre Naklo in Strahinj, Slovenia, was officially launched, marking the successful establishment of one of three new incubators developed within the AgriNext project framework.

These incubators — located in Slovenia, Croatia, and Spain — have been created to nurture rural excellence, entrepreneurship, and green skills. Each of them has been established through the transfer of knowledge and best practices from the Irish incubator hosted by Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), a leading model of innovation in rural and multifunctional agriculture.

The Slovenian AgriNext incubator at BC Naklo serves as a dynamic hub where young talent, farmers, educators, and startups can co-create practical, market-ready solutions. It supports a wide range of activities including circular farming, agritourism, food processing, ecosystem services, and digital technologies in agriculture. By aligning education, mentoring, and real business challenges, the incubator bridges the gap between labour market needs and rural development opportunities.

In a statement marking the launch, the AgriNext project leader from BC Naklo, Tibor Brvar, highlighted the long-term value of this achievement:

“The AgriNext Incubator is one of the most important results of the project, as it guarantees the sustainability of our efforts beyond the project’s conclusion. By embedding innovation capacity and entrepreneurial support at a local level, we ensure that the impact of AgriNext continues to grow long after the project ends.”

The launch of all three incubators represents a major step forward in advancing climate-smart agriculture, diversifying rural economies, and equipping future agri-entrepreneurs with the tools and networks they need to succeed.

The AgriNext consortium invites stakeholders, learners, and innovators to stay engaged and follow the incubators’ activities as they begin to shape the future of rural Europe through collaboration, innovation, and education.