Foodvalley unveils SME Innovation Voucher to “drive transformative change” in food and health

22 Jun 2023 --- With the voucher system, Foodvalley NL and the Regio Deal Foodvalley, in the Netherlands, aim to accelerate the commercial introduction of breakthrough innovations by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food, health and nutrition sectors.

The initiative facilitates access to scientific talent, capacity and necessary facilities to develop innovative products and demonstrate their functionality. 

Foodvalley NL – an independent organization that aims to accelerate the transition of the food system – has reserved a total budget of €950,000 (US$1.04 million) for the vouchers. 

Applying SMEs can get funding ranging from €10,000 (around US$11,000) to €50,000 (almost US$60,000) per eligible project, at up to 50% co-financing. 

“Many promising agri-food start-ups and scale-ups struggle to make a significant impact due to limited opportunities for real-world application and upscaling. The scheme aims to support agri-food SMEs and the commercial introduction of agriculture, food and health innovations,” Emmanuel Anom, shared facilities lead at Foodvalley NL, tells Nutrition Insight. 

“The aim is to enhance and diversify the use of pilot facilities in the region (Gelderland and Utrecht), increase levels of innovation to support the capture and growth of new sales and markets, enhance industry partnerships and collaboration and reduce commercialization gaps and barriers.” 

The scheme aims to support agri-food SMEs and the commercial introduction of innovations, highlights Anom (Image credit: Foodvalley NL).Within the voucher initiative, Foodvalley NL cooperates with Regio Deal Foodvalley – a collaboration between the Dutch government and regional stakeholders. The partnership is a “collaborative effort to accelerate regional innovations and facilitate the transition to a sustainable food system,” adds Anom.  

Promising food and health start-ups 
Anom sees a range of innovation potential within the Foodvalley NL themes of protein transition, circular agri-food, and food and health. 

“Start-ups have significant potential to develop agricultural, food and health innovations. Their agility, entrepreneurial spirit and fresh perspectives allow them to challenge conventional approaches.” 

For example, within personalized nutrition, Anom sees potential in “technologies and services that offer tailored dietary recommendations based on individual health profiles, genetic information and lifestyle factors.”

In digital health and wellness, he mentions there are opportunities in “digital health solutions and AI-powered diagnostics to empower individuals to monitor and improve their health and well-being.”  

Food waste reduction solutions could include options to “help tackle the issue of food waste through, for example, upcycling food byproducts, creating circular food systems, developing smart packaging that prolongs shelf life and supply chain management technologies.” 

And in sustainable agriculture practices, Anom looks for “innovations that promote sustainable farming methods to optimize resource utilization, reduce environmental impact and enhance crop yields.” 

Innovations in alternative protein sources could address the growing demand for protein while minimizing the environmental footprint. At the same time, levering sensors, drones, AI and data analytics could enable precision agriculture to reduce environmental impact and improve resource efficiency in inputs such as water, fertilizers and pesticides. 

Overcoming start-up challenges 
Anom identifies various challenges for agriculture, food and health start-ups to develop and scale innovations. “Limited financial resources, lack of infrastructure and equipment and the need for validation and scaling up can hinder their progress.” 

The innovation vouchers help SMEs with financial resources.“One of the most significant challenges start-ups face is the need for more financial resources to access specialized facilities and equipment. The innovation vouchers help cover the costs associated with accessing pilot facilities.” 

“With the voucher’s assistance, start-ups can access state-of-the-art pilot facilities with the necessary infrastructure and equipment to develop and validate their innovations. This support enables start-ups to focus on refining their prototypes, conducting experiments and gathering valuable data.”

Anom adds that the innovation vouchers also address the expertise gap start-ups often face. 

“Access to pilot facilities means exposure to experienced professionals and technical experts. Start-ups can tap into their knowledge, guidance and technical support to navigate challenges, optimize processes and validate their concepts,” he underscores.

“This access to expertise helps start-ups bolster their capabilities, ensure quality control and increase their chances of success.”   

Expert guidance and collaboration 
In addition to the financial assistance offered through the innovation vouchers, Foodvalley NL will support participating SMEs with expert guidance and mentorship, plus events, workshops, networking and collaboration opportunities, notes Anom. 

“Foodvalley NL offers expert guidance and mentorship to SMEs, leveraging its network of industry experts, advisors and seasoned professionals. SMEs can benefit from tailored advice, strategic insights, and mentorship to navigate challenges, refine their innovations, and develop robust business models.”

Applications run between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2026.He continues: “Foodvalley NL facilitates networking and collaboration among participating SMEs, connecting them with like-minded entrepreneurs, potential partners, investors and industry stakeholders. This fosters knowledge exchange, partnerships and potential commercialization opportunities, further enhancing the growth prospects of SMEs.”  

Who can apply? 
SMEs can apply for funding to help them drive transformative change within the industry and nurture partnerships with facility providers in the agri-food ecosystem.  

Applications are to be submitted between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2026. After submission, the approval process takes six to eight weeks. 

To qualify for the subsidy, companies must be incorporated and registered to conduct business in the Netherlands or the EU, qualify as an SME and have been operating for at least 12 months. 

The voucher system targets SMEs that operate at Technology Readiness Levels 4-8, which is used in the EU to estimate the maturity of technologies. SMEs should at least have a validated technology (level 4), up to a complete and qualified system (level 8), but not an actual system proven in an operational environment (level 9). 

Other food accelerator programs also see the potential of start-ups to feed future generations and combat climate change, looking at alternative proteins, waste upcycling, carbon capture and AI. 

By Jolanda van Hal