You are here: / / Partnership

Webinar: Foodtech in Spain- Addressing new challenges across the food value chain

/in , , , /by

WEBINAR

28/03/2023. Online 

Free entry, registration required. 

4PM  CET

ICEX Spain Trade & Investment has recently launched its third report on the Foodtech sector in Spain. As a result, a webinar on “Foodtech in Spain: Addressing new challenges across the food value chain” will take place, featuring prominent stakeholders, from investors, and innovation hubs, to corporations and startups, of the Spanish foodtech ecosystem who were highlighted in the report and are currently developing initiatives to support innovative solutions to various challenges. The webinar aims to give visibility to the Spanish Foodtech ecosystem and showcase its potential to become a leading Foodtech Nation.

WHY PARTICIPATE

 

The Foodtech industry in Spain is experiencing a significant transformation towards more sustainable and efficient projects, aided by public and private support at regional and national levels. These developments have helped Spain maintain its strength in Foodtech investment, even in the face of the industry’s most significant investment drop.

Despite the challenges, the Foodtech sector in Spain saw a rise of up to €268M in 2022, representing a 9.38% increase since the previous year, excluding the Glovo effect, as revealed in our latest report “Addressing new challenges across the food value chain”. 

In addition to successfully securing significant investment operations with both national and international players, the Foodtech industry has witnessed a substantial growth in the number of operators within its ecosystem. This includes a notable increase from 407 to 412 startups in the past year, alongside over 30,000 companies engaged in food transformation. Furthermore, the industry benefits from the involvement of more than 50 specialized universities and 20 advanced technology centers.

Join us as we explore the intricacies of the Spanish foodtech industry’s future through the perspectives of investors (Clave Capital), corporations (Mahou San Miguel), startups (Oscillum), and technology centers (Eatex Food Innovation Hub). Discover success stories, compelling projects, and programs that are facilitating collaboration between the industry and technology centers.

If you’re interested in delving deeper into the current state and challenges of the country’s food sector, download the report here.

AGENDA

Where Via online
When 28-03-2023 – 16.00 – Foodtech in Spain: Addressing new challenges across the food value
Registration Registration is completely free. Register yourself in the following link:

 https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ncDuDO8lT9uSEg8fBzmQfA

SPEAKERS

 

Maria Naranjo, the Agrifood Industry Director of ICEX, will be introducing the following speakers:

 

Eatex Food Innovation Hub:  Eatex is the collaborative innovation hub for technology transfer and implementation in the agri-food industry, promoting and financing collaborative R&D&I projects for the development of innovative technological solutions that can be transferred from R&D centers to the agri-food industry.

 

Clave Capital: Clave Capital is a venture capital management company with 20 years of experience, during which time they have made more than 90 investments, and actively collaborate in the definition of strategy and management of investee companies. 

They promote technology transfer projects, industrial SMEs and renewable energy projects. They are currently launching a new €80M investment fund for technology transfer projects in the health sector.

  • Carlos Jacoste – Entrepreneurship, Venturing and New Technologies Manager – Mahou San Miguel

Mahou San Miguel: Mahou San Miguel is the leading Spanish company in the beer sector in our country and the most international, with a presence in more than 70 countries. The company is a family of more than 3,876 professionals who, with their enthusiasm and commitment, strive every day to make our brands part of the best moments of our consumers. Mahou San Miguel drives innovation, they believe in people, seek excellence, enjoy doing things well and create sustainable businesses and environments.

  • Luis Chimeno Morales, Co founder & CMO – Oscillum 

Oscillum: Oscillum is a biotech company that develops sensors for the agri-food industry. Founded in Alicante (2019), Oscillum has developed SmartLabel a smart label that is placed in contact with food and is able to alert about the state of spoilage/freshness of that product by a simple color change.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

FONDO EUROPEO DE DESARROLLO REGIONAL (FEDER).                                      A way of making Europe
This service/activity is eligible for co-financing from Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)

Eatable Adventures joins the national network of Italian accelerators

/in , , /by

The food technology accelerator has been chosen by CDP Venture Capital Sgr, Fondazione Cariverona, and UniCredit to lead the national Agrifoodtech program in Italy

FoodSeed will have an investment of €15 million to support startups during its acceleration program and subsequent growth

The Italian agrifood system represents 25% of the national GDP and has historically been a driving force for the country’s growth and development. Currently, this market faces several pressures that question the resilience, efficiency, and sustainability of the industry compared to other international markets. For the development of Italian companies in this sector, which have always been global symbols of excellence and quality in “Made in Italy” products, there is an urgent need to adopt new business models incorporating sustainability and technology as strategic pillars.

In this context, Eatable Adventures, one of the world’s leading Foodtech accelerators, has been chosen by CDP Venture Capital’s national network of accelerators to lead FoodSeed, the national Agrifoodtech acceleration programme. FoodSeed will join the national network of accelerators of the Italian public venture capital, which already has nearly 20 verticalized programmes, to support the development of the most disruptive agrifood Italian startups.

FoodSeed has received support from promoters and main investor partners CDP Venture Capital, Fondazione Cariverona, UniCredit, and Eatable Adventures, with a funding of more than €15 million (€12 million allocated by CDP Venture Capital, Fondazione Cariverona, and UniCredit, and €3.24 million in additional resources from Eatable Adventures). For three years, the programme will select up to ten startups per year to boost one of Italy’s most important innovation ecosystems, specifically in Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Beverages, and Circular Economy.

Thus, Eatable Adventures begins its commercial activity in Italy, where it has already established offices in the city of Verona, a manufacturing hub in northern Italy, and home to some of the most prominent Italian food companies.

The accelerator has appointed Riccardo Fisogni, Vice President and General Manager of Eatable Adventures Italia, to lead the project. Fisogni is an investment banker, advisor, and business angel with a decade of experience in strategic financial consulting for SMEs and startups. He will promote the company’s 2023 agenda, which includes significant initiatives aimed at renewing the local agrifood ecosystem through the development of new models of collaboration with global ambitions.

“Italy is a strategic market on the global stage, and it is now critical to accelerate the food system transition,” said Riccardo Fisogni, Vice President and General Manager of Eatable Adventures Italy. “The FoodSeed programme will power a new generation of Foodtech startups in Italy, assisting in the global transition of the food system. It is an excellent opportunity for both startups and Italian agrifood companies facing significant economic and environmental challenges. Innovation is the solution to our industry’s major challenges and a key driver of its competitiveness.”

In addition to the FoodSeed program, Eatable Adventures Italy will also promote local ecosystem development initiatives and open innovation projects aimed at fostering the Italian industry’s economic progress and competitiveness, focusing on collaborations among key players in the agrifood value chain, including companies, startups, universities, and R&D centres.

“The Italian food industry is undeniably a strategic market on a global scale, and its emerging ecosystem provides a fantastic opportunity to accelerate the implementation of new technologies in the sector,” says José Luis Cabañero, Founder and CEO of Eatable Adventures. “We are excited to take on this new challenge and build synergies with a market that has very similar characteristics to Spain’s, which will undoubtedly help us structure the European agrifoodtech ecosystem.”

The new FoodSeed programme joins Eatable Adventures’ more than 10 incubation and acceleration programmes for businesses, governments, and projects developed by the accelerator itself. Eatable Adventures connects the most innovative startups with industry, investors, and institutions on four continents to build a solid and competitive agrifoodtech ecosystem on a global scale.

Eatex Food Innovation Hub launches its second call to promote technology transfer in the agri-food sector.

/in , , , /by

  • The Hub has opened the application period for Exponential projects to participate in its innovation and technology transfer program.

  • The program promotes and finances collaborative R&D projects to develop innovative technological solutions that can be transferred from R&D centers to the agri-food industry.

Eatex Food Innovation Hub, the collaborative innovation hub for the transfer and implementation of technology in the agri-food industry has opened the deadline for receiving applications for exponential projects for the Innovation and Technology Transfer Development Program. The program is part of the main activities developed by the hub to promote and finance collaborative R&D&I projects for the development of innovative technological solutions that can be transferred from R&D centers to the agri-food industry.
Created a few months ago, Eatex Food Innovation Hub is a project driven by CNTA (National Center for Food Technology and Safety), with the support of the Government of Navarra and the collaboration of more than 10 R&D centers of the Navarra R&D&I System (SINAI), which promotes technology transfer in the agri-food sector to improve business competitiveness and find solutions to the industrial challenges of today and the future. This open and applied innovation ecosystem adopts a holistic approach, based on the implementation of agile and advanced research dynamics and models.
The program is addressed to companies and startups from any geographical location and SINAI R&D centers operating in the agri-food sector seeking collaborative projects based on consortia between companies and R&D centers. The companies are the promoters and are responsible for defining the technological challenge and the R&D centers are the main executors of the research activities.
In addition, the program contemplates two different modalities: Express projects, with fast execution (maximum duration of 6 months projects), and Exponential projects (with R&D&I activities that address complex problems with a variable execution period (from several months up to 2 years)). Pre-application for both modalities is open continuously from December 2022 and upon approval, the application phase will start. For Express projects the call will be open continuously, while for Exponential projects the call will remain open until May 22, 2023.

The projects will address new proposals and solutions in six key research areas for the agri-food industry: Promotion of the Agriculture and Livestock of the Future, Search for New Ingredients and Production Models, Development of New Food and Beverages for a Healthy Diet, and Implementation of the 4.0 Industry and Hyperconnected Processes.
According to Silvia García de la Torre, director of Eatex Food Innovation Hub, “The Program for the development of innovation and technology transfer is a unique opportunity for companies in the agri-food sector to solve their industrial challenges in an agile way, optimizing their resources and minimizing innovation risk.”
More information about Eatex Food Innovation Hub at www.eatexfoodinnovationhub.com

La innovación ya tiene sede en Mercamadrid

Through the support of Mercamadrid, a new innovation hub has emerged in Spain

/in , , /by

Spain’s largest platform for the distribution, commercialization, transformation, and logistics of fresh food, launches its first challenge to the entrepreneurial community in collaboration with Eatable Adventures.

Mercamadrid, the largest fresh food distribution, commercialization, processing and logistics platform in Spain, looks forward to the future with a strong commitment to innovation, which will allow companies in this industry to provide innovative and effective solutions to current challenges. Mercamadrid is now the home of innovation, thanks to a new space serving as a base and meeting place for innovative companies.

As part of its efforts to improve the competitiveness and quality of the food sector, or to digitalize the companies in the sector, the Mercamadrid Innovation Hub already works with entities such as the National Center for Food Technology and Safety and Orange. The Innovation Hub is born with the aspiration of becoming a stable collaboration platform for companies, startups, and professionals in search of innovative solutions to the challenges of the food sector, allowing them to improve competitiveness and drive activity. In addition, they have a coworking area where projects, presentations, and collaboration on innovative solutions can be developed.

With this company’s strategic bet on innovation, special importance is placed on the first initiative driven in collaboration with the accelerator Eatable Adventures: Smart Food Future Innovation Challenge. The first call to innovation, launched from the food unit, will allow to offer innovative answers to real challenges, previously posed by Mercamadrid companies in three strategic areas such as logistics, packaging, and upcycling. In this way, Mercamadrid will challenge the international innovation ecosystem to find solutions aimed at optimizing transportation routes in terms of sustainability and cost, as well as identifying traceability systems that allow the tracking of goods. As part of the packaging area, proposals will be selected that improve food preservation and extend its shelf life, taking into account the concept of sustainability. Finally, the challenge also aims to revalue food waste and residuals through their transformation into new products, including reusable containers.

Startups that develop solutions in these areas and want to collaborate with an international leader in fresh food management will find this program a great opportunity.

Start-ups wishing to present their proposals for some of the challenges posed can do so from today at www.smartfoodfuture.com.

This is the beginning of Mercamadrid’s future, coinciding with the commemoration of its 40 years of success, with its sights set on future solutions that will allow it to continue moving towards the forefront of commercial distribution in the world.

Colombia Foodtech

Colombia Foodtech Acceleration Program boosts Latin American foodtech startups in its first cohort

/in , , /by

First edition of Colombia Foodtech Acceleration Program kicks off, organised by Vertical-I, Colombia’s Center of Excellence in Innovation Systems, and Eatable Adventures, a food technology accelerator.

Colombia Foodtech Acceleration Program has started its first edition led by Vertical-I, Centre of Excellence in Innovation Systems in Colombia, in alliance with Eatable Adventures, one of the world’s leading agrifood accelerators. This programme aims to develop and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the agri-food industry in Colombia, which is known as the “Innovation Hub of Latin America”. As a matter of fact, according to the Organisation for Economic Growth and Development (OECD), Colombia is the third most entrepreneurial country among its 34 members, behind only Chile and Korea, and is one of the few countries in Latin America with two unicorns.

Furthermore, the agri-food sector is a strategic vertical for Colombia, since this industry, led by the food and beverage area, is one of the main manufacturing sectors in Colombia and in the Department of Atlántico, accounting for 29.3% of the country’s gross production (EAM, 2021). These data reflects the market’s interest in promoting innovation and applying new technologies in the sector, creating a solid and competitive industry and entrepreneurial ecosystem on a global scale.

Mila Valcárcel, Managing Partner and co-founder of Eatable Adventures, has highlighted Colombia’s strategic position on the Latin American map to develop the agri-food industry globally. “Colombia is a strategic market to accelerate the transition of the food system, thanks to the strength of its agri-food industry, at the forefront of innovation. As part of our partnership with Vertical-i, we are launching an incubation and acceleration programme that adds to over 10 programmes that we have already developed for corporations, governments and our own. We believe it will be a great opportunity for startups in the country, and we are confident that this will be the engine of a new generation of Foodtech startups in Latin America that will help us drive the transition of the food system globally”. 

Eatable Adventures is expanding its operations on four continents and creating a global ecosystem of more than 25,000 founders and entrepreneurs in order to consolidate its growth in the international market.

For his part, José Polo, CEO of Vertical-i “This disruptive and pioneering programme in Colombia will have an intensive work plan for 4 months. Upon completion of the first cohort, we intend to make a second version, so as to empower more startups with this Vertical-I initiative, which aims to provide an effective way of connecting entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs who have a broad vision of business, growth, and innovation. Those who are constantly seeking to expand their products and services, as well as those who want to share their expertise or contribute to the growth of the sector, will be able to connect with us effectively”.

As part of the first cohort of this program, 5 startups specializing in developing new products with healthy properties will work in a high-impact program supported by the governmental entity Gobernación del Atlántico, Vertical-I, and the General System of Royalties. The following companies will work in a specialized high-impact program that will help them scale and gain investors and customers: Amande Cocina, Albesa de Colombia, Cron Foods, Mimi Día and Spiga Food.

More information at https://colombiafoodtech.com/

Areas for Change Challenge

Areas for Change Challenge, the new opportunity for the food & beverage’s startups ecosystem in travel retail

/in , , /by

Areas challenges the international entrepreneurial community to find real solutions related to sustainability, gastronomy, and digitalization challenges within the industry of food & beverage and travel retail.

 

Areas, the global leader company that manages restaurants and convenience stores at airports, train stations, and motorway travel plazas and which operates in 10 countries, has launched Areas for Change Challenge, its first Startups Challenge, to identify specific and feasible solutions to respond their business and sectorial challenges within the industry of food & beverage and travel retail, especially in terms of sustainability and consumer experience. 

The company has launched this new initiative in the framework of its ESG strategy ‘Areas for Change’, which focuses on three main pillars: People, Planet and Future. With this program, and in collaboration with Eatable Adventures, one of the leading global Foodtech accelerators, Areas is looking for startups delivering real solutions to the following challenges:

  • People: healthier products for breakfast and grab & go moments on the move
  • Planet: solutions for managing the waste generated in the Areas’ restaurants
  • Future: digital or robotic solutions to improve efficiency

The selected startups will have the opportunity to work with a leading company in the sector and access its international network: a 3-month pilot program in Areas’ locations at a global level; product placement expertise in Areas’ most relevant points of sale; support in go-to-market strategies with Areas professional team, consumer insights analysis by Areas expertise; investment for your project to take off and a potential future agreement to become a supplier.

According to Oscar Vela, CEO at Areas, “Areas promotes this challenge to find solutions that will reinvent the sector of travel retail and will help to promote a greater environmental commitment and experience for the travelers. We look for solutions that respond to the great challenges that we will face in the travel retail industry in the next years”. 

In words of Itziar Ortega, Senior VP of Global Operations at Eatable Adventures “We are very excited to launch this new challenge with a leading innovation company with an international presence such as Areas. The selected startups will have the great opportunity to scale and expand their business by working with a global leader in the travel retail sector, having access to all its know-how, infrastructure and network of points of sale. Thanks to the commitment of partners like Areas, we continue to accelerate the industry’s transition to a much more sustainable and efficient model.”

Those startups that are Interested in taking the market to the next level can register here: https://areasforchange.com/challenge/

Sigma - Eatable Adventures

Spain Foodtech Partners: Sigma

/in , /by

Sigma operates in 18 countries throughout North and South America and Europe. With more than 65 plants and 184 distribution centers, the company produces, markets and distributes quality foods including packaged meats, cheese, yogurt and other refrigerated and frozen foods.

TASTECH BY SIGMA

Sigma has launched the third edition of its Tastech by Sigma accelerator program. With its open innovation programs and calls for projects, Sigma is committed to promoting the development of technological solutions, products and services to generate impact and improve the customer experience.

More than 900 startups from 41 countries have participated in Tastech, resulting in investments, a distribution contract, and other collaboration agreements in process.

Since 2019, Tastetch has continued to collaborate with the entrepreneurial ecosystem and drive high-potential projects in the food industry.

Following this year’s success, the program has selected 8 startups, 4 of which are Spanish, demonstrating Sigma’s strong commitment to the Spanish Foodtech ecosystem.

Daniel Alanis, Chief Growth Officer at Sigma.“Through Tastech, Sigma opens its doors to entrepreneurs from around the world to share their knowledge, conduct joint pilot tests and implement new technologies and solutions that will drive the future of the food industry. We are excited to find new ideas and support the talent of the most innovative and disruptive food startups.”

 

 

Daniel Alanis, Chief Growth Officer at Sigma.

Mahou San Miguel - Eatable Adventures

Spain Foodtech Partners: Mahou San Miguel

/in , /by

Mahou San Miguel, a family-owned beverage company, 100% Spanish and leader in the beer sector in our country. It produces more than 70% of the Spanish beer consumed outside Spain and is present in more than 70 countries.

In 2022 it launches BarLab Ventures, its open innovation platform for entrepreneurial projects that drive the Food and Beverage sector.

RETHINK YOUR DRINK CHALLENGE

As part of its open innovation platform, the company launched in July, together with Eatable Adventures, “Rethink your Drink”, its first open innovation challenge to find answers to the sector’s major challenges.

The call is open to startups from around the world that have a differential, sustainable and innovative proposal that generates a transformative and sustainable impact on the traditional beverage industry.

More than 100 startups have registered, from which a first shortlist has already been selected. In the coming weeks, the company will announce the selected startups and their innovative proposals.

Miguel-Angel“We are convinced that thanks to this project we will be able to share with entrepreneurs a common perspective to make bars, restaurants, distributors and the rest of our value chain strengthen their collaboration to generate wealth, based on aspects such as excellence, innovation and sustainability.”

 

Miguel Ángel Miguel, General Manager of Transformation at Mahou San Miguel.

Spain Foodtech Partners: Pascual

/in , /by

Founded in 1969, Pascual, a leader in the food sector, has a range of more than 200 products, 6 factories, 27 local offices and more than 2,000 employees in the 63 countries in which it operates.
Pascual advocates from the outset the creation of the Corporate Venturing branch of the company: Pascual Innoventures.

In 2020, Pascual and Eatable Adventures launch a collaborative challenge dedicated to international startups active in the production of solutions for the plant-based dairy sector.

MYLKCUBATOR

Incubation Program

Mylkcubator, the world’s first incubator specialized in the development of innovation projects for the dairy sector, was launched in May 2021. Since then, it has achieved incredible success, positioning Pascual globally as an innovative and cutting-edge company.

4 early stage startups from different continents are chosen, the main Venture Capital of the sector join to have access to Mylkcubator’s dealflow. In 2022, the second edition has been launched.

Pascual“The quality of the startups selected in the first edition has been amazing and shows us that this is clearly the way forward. The visibility of these projects, as well as the investment projects they are receiving is a sign that the industry is ready for this technological transition.”

 

Gabriel Pascual, director of Pascual Innoventures

Eatex

Eatex Food Innovation Hub, the new collaborative innovation hub for the transfer and implementation of technology in the agri-food industry

/in , , /by

  •   A project promoted by CNTA (the Spanish National Centre for Food Technology and Safety) with the support of the Government of Navarra and collaboration of more than 10  R&D&I centers of the Navarre R&D&I System (SINAI)

  •   Among the activities that will be developed in the hub there is the detection of needs between the stakeholders of the sector and the generation of new opportunities; developing, validating, and demonstrating solutions and accompanying in the scaling and the implementation of these solutions. 

 

Innovation in the agri-food sector is unstoppable. In 2021 the Spanish national Foodtech ecosystem tripled its investments compared to last year, according to accelerator Eatable Adventure’s data, achieving excellent traction from national and international investors, managing to position Spain as the fifth European power in this vertical. This boom in innovation and solidity in intellectual property has boosted the creation of new models of collaboration between the principal agents of this ecosystem to accelerate the technology transfer. 

In this context, CNTA  (National Center for Food Technology and Safety) has created the Eatex Food Innovation Hub, the new collaborative innovation hub for the transfer and technology implementation in the agri-food industry. An ecosystem of open and applied innovation that addresses and solves today’s and future problems in the agri-food sector through a holistic focus based on the implementation of agile and advanced dynamics and research models. 

Eatex Food Innovation Hub was born as a gathering point,  a space beyond a physical location, where science and businesses collaborate to make research and technology transfer successful. This project promoted by CNTA has the support of the Government of Navarre and the collaboration of more than 10  R&D&I centers of the Navarre R&D&I System (SINAI). The creation of this hub is part of the Complementary Plan AGROALNEXT, within the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience plan financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.

Among its objectives is to improve and accelerate the technology transfer of valuable solutions from the R&D centers to the agri-food sector to increase the success rate of technology transfer and reduce the innovation risk. According to Silvia García de la Torre, Eatex Food Innovation Hub director, “the motivation to create this new hub comes from improving technology transfer, a very important tool with great potential for agri-food companies since it will allow them to open to new possibilities, ideas, and opportunities.”

This will be achieved through the implementation of agile and advanced research dynamics and models, based on collaboration and co-creation of solutions with a holistic vision of the entire value chain and with a focus on the final customer.  In addition, providing funding for the development of solutions with agile management of projects oriented towards results and collaborating and creating synergies with other entities and initiatives. 

Among the activities that will be developed in the hub, there will be the detection of needs in the sector and the generation of new opportunities; developing, validating, and demonstrating solutions while accompanying the scale and implementation of those solutions.

Eatex Food Innovation Hub will start its activity in mid-December with the ¨Program for the development of innovation and technology transfer” where it will address six research areas: promotion of agriculture and livestock of the future, search for new ingredients and production models, development of new food and beverage for healthy eating, implementation of the industry 4.0 and hyperconnected processes, innovation applied to food packaging and preservation systems and the application of circularity and appraisal of by-products and waste. 

More info about Eatex Food Innovation Hub  www.eatexfoodinnovationhub.com

Get In Touch

Whether you are looking to speed up your startup, new life for your corporation or the next big investment opportunity, contact us today and get started on the road to success.

This contact form is deactivated because you refused to accept Google reCaptcha service which is necessary to validate any messages sent by the form.

Building tomorrow’s food system

Content

Get In Touch