NIA and Partners Drive SPACE-F Batch 6 to Scale FoodTech Startups, Building on a 5-Year Track Record of 5 Billion Baht Raised and Access to a 60-Billion-Baht Market

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), through the National Innovation Agency (Public Organization) or NIA, has partnered with Thai Union Group PCL, Mahidol University, Thai Beverage PCL, Nestlé (Thai) Ltd., and a broad network of leading food industry players to launch “SPACE-F Batch 6: Thailand’s First Global FoodTech Incubator and Accelerator Program.” Building on the success of previous batches, SPACE-F continues its mission to support startups that are developing cutting-edge innovations to address critical challenges in the food industry. This year, 20 startups - 10 in the Incubator Program and 10 in the Accelerator Program – will participate. They will benefit from expert mentorship, access to funding networks, state-of-the-art facilities at Mahidol University’s Faculty of Science, and opportunities to collaborate on product development with global food industry leaders such as Thai Union Group PCL, Thai Beverage PCL, and Nestlé (Thai) Ltd..

Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency (Public Organization) (NIA), stated at the launch event: 

“NIA, as a key driver of Thailand’s innovation direction, is committed to propelling the country toward becoming an innovation nation under the framework of Groom – Grant – Growth – Global. We support innovation development through support, entrepreneurial capacity building, access to innovation infrastructure, and adaptability to change. Our efforts are focused on leveraging innovation to drive growth and add value in key target industries. One such pivotal sector is food innovation, which we have supported through SPACE-F, a global incubator and accelerator programme for food technology businesses. SPACE-F is designed to support FoodTech startups, both domestic and international, in developing market-driven products and serving as a key driver for enhancing Thailand’s competitive edge amidst a rapidly evolving global landscape.”

“SPACE-F Batch 6 aims to create a robust ecosystem for FoodTech startups by leveraging strong public-private partnerships, including Thai Union Group PCL, Mahidol University, Thai Beverage PCL, Nestlé (Thai) Ltd.,. The program opens doors for startups to access funding, expert guidance, and business networks to scale their ventures and build market-driven innovations that address key food industry challenges. Over the past five years, SPACE-F has facilitated over 5 billion baht in funding and supported more than 80 startups from 18 countries, expanding their reach into ASEAN—a region with over 650 million consumers and a food market valued at more than 60 billion baht. SPACE-F continues to support Thailand’s vision of becoming the ‘Kitchen of the World,’ capitalizing on the country’s rich natural resources, continued investment in food innovation, and globally recognized food safety standards. NIA hopes that Batch 6 will mark another significant step for startups as they innovate and transform the food industry toward a more sustainable future.” 

Assoc. Prof. Pasit Pakawatpanurut, Ph.D. Deputy Dean for Research and Innovation Faculty of Science, Mahidol University added:

“For SPACE-F Batch 6, we are confident that technology will be a key enabler for participating startups to grow and expand their businesses onto the global stage. Mahidol University is fully committed to providing support. Startups will have full access to our resources and facilities, receive guidance from our distinguished faculty who graduated from leading institutions worldwide, and even draw inspiration from our students.”

10 FoodTech Startups Participating in the Incubator Program:

1. BioNano Solution (Thailand): Develops nanoencapsulation technology to turn low stability/solubility products into higher quality products.
2. Haruna (Thailand): Natural prebiotic from RS (Natural Resistant Starch) for individuals with chronic constipation.
3. HILLKOFF (Thailand): Upcycling cherry coffee husks to add value.
4. LOCOL (Thailand): Utilizing cocoa waste for low-carbon beef production.
5. MadeSweetly (United Kingdom): A plant-based sweetener alternative using precision fermentation to produce a naturally occurring sweet protein.
6. Karmic Global (United Arab Emirates): Biodegradable bioplastics made from upcycling waste from the shrimp industry.
7. ZenxTag Technology (Hong Kong): Develops sensitive spoilage primers (TVB, pH, H2S, TMA) for the food industry.
8. Sherapis (Thailand): A low-sodium stock cube.
9. MAMAY Technologies (Israel): The digitization of organoleptic sensations.
10. Nano Onions (Thailand): A seaweed-based drinking straw.

10 FoodTech Startups Participating in the Accelerator Program:

1. Akarso Bio (USA): Develops a patented, clean-label ingredient that enhances GLP-1 release for satiety and metabolic health.
2. Poseidona (Spain): Using rescued seaweed to develop protein ingredients for the food industry. 
3. Warich Food (Thailand): Develops new foods from ripened fruits and turns them into novel products.
4. Alcheme Bio (USA): Developing Cellular "Marbling," an AI-powered enzyme platform that transforms alternative proteins by enhancing taste and nutrition.
5. TIGAMILK (Hong Kong): World's first tiger nut milk.
6. Jupitair (Poland): Patented photocatalytic engine, which uses nanostructured ceramic layers activated by UV-A LED
7. Genbioma (Spain): Natural ingredients and supplements that regulate metabolism through the balance of the intestinal microbiota
8. Neramit Foodtech (Thailand): Thailand's first Starch-Free rice from high protein and seaweed fiber.
9. Hypercell Technologies (USA): Enabling rapid, on-site pathogen detection in just 40 minutes with lab-level accuracy.
10. Singular Intelligence (United Kingdom): Leverages AI and data-driven solutions to enhance efficiency and sustainability in the food supply chain.

More information about the SPACE-F project can be found at https://www.space-f.co