WADENSWILL, Switzerland — Frutarom Ltd. Israel is opening FoodNxt, its fully equipped innovation lab for food-tech startups, in north of Israel. The company invites Israeli food-tech and ingredient companies to join in for mutually beneficial collaborations. The innovation lab will focus on developing all-natural ingredients for the global food and beverage industry.
More than 80 food-tech startups are based in Israel, with rapid double-digit growth rate expected by 2020.
Frutarom was selected, following a tender procedure, by the Israel Innovation Authority to operate the innovation lab for a period of three years. Start-ups chosen to join FoodNxt by Frutarom will be granted up to 85% of their approved R&D expenses (up to NIS1 million, or about US$300,000) for the purpose of reaching a proof of concept. The innovation lab is led by Gali Artzi, Ph.D., Frutarom Innovation Director. Artzi, with extensive experience as an R&D professional, has held commercial positions in the industry since 2010. She previously held key roles at VAYA Pharma, Inc. (US) and Enzymotec, Israel, and has a B.Sc. in Biology and a Ph.D. in cell research and immunology, both from Tel Aviv University.
The FoodNxt professional team will help selected startups formulate their products to meet all international regulations, develop patent strategy, build business plans and test the market. FoodNxt offers access to Frutarom’s portfolio for developing and testing on modular platforms, and connect Israeli innovation with the food and health ingredient markets.
“Israel being a ‘start-up nation’ is not just a clich?” said Yoni Glickman, President of Frutarom Natural Solutions. “Start-ups have become the growth engine of the food industry, and Frutarom, through FoodNxt, is working to accelerate this innovation—by providing know-how, processes, technologies, and expertise to help overcome challenges, nurture development, and launch new products into the global market.”
“Strategically, we seek real innovation in every aspect of Frutarom activities,” said Glickman. “In the past few years, we have collaborated with innovative startups and companies to identify novel ingredients and technologies. For example, developing the ‘NutraT’ a line of ready-to-use soluble powder formulas that dissolve easily in water, soft drinks and dairy products, or Frutaceuticals, a nutraceutical line that incorporates functional botanicals into real fruit pieces, developed with Taura URC Technology, and many others. Innovation is one of our key drivers to success in making better-for-you products based on our expertise in taste and health.”
“The innovation labs program launched recently by the Israel Innovation Authority enables seasoned and experienced corporations such as Frutarom to provide start-ups with the required platform to grow and establish their businesses with the right global market focus”, says Anya Eldan, VP Start-Up division at the Israel Innovation Authority “Moreover, such program enables the promotion of innovative ideas and technologies as part of a growing food related ecosystem in Israel.”
Frutarom is seeking food, nutraceutical, and functional ingredient start-ups with a strong passion for health and innovation and a clear mission to improve food and wellness. Applications from external entrepreneurs, start-ups, and early stage growth businesses to participate in the FoodNxt program should be submitted to: Naturalsolutions.info@frutatom.com
We invite you to visit us at FoodTech IL 2018, Tel Aviv, May 7th. Please contact our team at the event to discuss FoodNxt in greater details.
About Frutarom
Frutarom is recognized as one of the world’s top flavor houses, and top five suppliers of natural colors, worldwide. The company is committed to a sustainability strategy, supporting farmers in multiple locations, and controlling its supply chain throughout to maintain full transparency and ensure product safety.
About the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA)
The Israel Innovation Authority, responsible for the country’s innovation policy, is an independent and impartial public entity that operates for the benefit of the Israeli innovation ecosystem and Israeli economy as a whole. Its role is to nurture and develop Israeli innovation resources, while creating and strengthening the infrastructure and framework needed to support the entire knowledge industry. Promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and disruptive technologies as a leverage for inclusive and sustainable economic growth is our mission and for this purpose the Israel Innovation Authority provides a variety of practical tools and funding platforms aimed at addressing the dynamic and changing needs of the local and international innovation ecosystems.
One of these tools is the “Innovation Labs” program. Its aim is to promote open innovation and enable startups at the initial stage of R&D to reach a significant fundable milestone in a relatively short time, while providing an access to market needs and a supportive framework.