The winner of the Born from Knowledge (BfK) award, granted by the National Innovation Agency (ANI), has been announced. This recognition is part of the BfK Awards initiative and the partnership with the ECOTROPHELIA Portugal Award, promoted by PortugalFoods. The innovative beetroot snack, Beeta, developed for competitive athletes, is a groundbreaking product that harnesses the health benefits of beetroot.

This award is given to the academic project that stands out the most for its technological foundation and innovative potential. Along with the recognition, the winning team will receive the “Tree of Knowledge” trophy, a monetary prize of €1,000, and a voucher to cover their travel expenses to attend the SIAL Paris trade fair in October 2024. The trophy symbolizes the intersection of art and technology, reflecting the values of scientific excellence and social and economic relevance.

“Beeta was created out of the need for a product with the right amount of nitrates, a formulation based on evidence, that is practical, tasty, and affordable,” stated João Cabral. He added, “The Born from Knowledge award is a source of great pride, as it recognizes all the effort put in over the past months to ensure Beeta is knowledge-based and impactful for consumers, especially athletes.

We are confident that, with ANI’s support, our product and future startup will be highly successful and recognized by athletes everywhere.” The team has also committed to sustainability and innovation by using raw materials that are unsuitable for sale in food retail stores and packaging made from PBAT or PLA, materials derived from renewable and recyclable sources.

Beeta’s transport will utilize reusable rigid plastic boxes, promoting waste reduction.

“This award is a testament to the innovative capacity and excellence of our young talents. Beeta is an inspiring example of how research and technological development can create sustainable and health-beneficial products while being innovative in a growing market both in Portugal and abroad,” said António Grilo, President of ANI.

Since 2017, ANI has awarded over 50 projects and startups originating from academic research in national innovation competitions and awards. These include initiatives by Altice, Crédito Agrícola, BPI, Glintt, PortugalFoods, and the Portuguese Association for the Development of Communications (APDC), through the Born from Knowledge program. Many of these projects are now symbols of national innovation in Portugal and internationally. .