With the launch of a Food & Hospitality Vertical, the Foundation for Technological Innovation (FIT) is for the first time implementing field-specific support for start-ups.

The Food & Hospitality Vertical includes two programmes: FIT Food & Hospitality by EHL for digital start-ups (previously known as FIT Digital by EHL and launched in 2019) and the new FIT Food Tech, launched in association with Nestlé, aiming to foster collaboration and investment between food-industry and early-stage tech start-ups in the local innovation ecosystem. B’ZEOS is the first start-up to take part in the FIT Food Tech.

Switzerland has long been a hub for the food and nutrition industry. Western Switzerland is home to major multinationals (such as Nestlé, Givaudan and Firmenich), top-class universities (such as EPFL, EHL and UNIL), advanced R&D centers and over 80 start-ups in the food industry. In Switzerland, this industry has the second-highest number of patents behind pharmaceuticals. Organizations within the Canton of Vaud in particular have been rolling out a number of initiatives to support food and nutrition research; these include EPFL’s Integrative Food & Nutrition Center, EHL’s Innovation Village and the Nestlé R&D Accelerator. In 2020, a consortium comprising the Canton of Vaud, EPFL, EHL Group and Nestlé – all of which are FIT sponsors or partners – launched the Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley association.

Building on these initiatives, the FIT launches the Food & Hospitality Vertical, which includes the new FIT Food Tech in partnership with Nestlé, alongside the Food & Hospitality by EHL programme. “This Food & Hospitality Vertical is a significant milestone for the FIT, as it is our first field-specific support. In addition to our partnership with EHL, we are pleased to include a new programme with Nestlé. The aim is to provide start-ups with the support of a world leading multinational company in its sector with future investment opportunities”, says David Kappeler, Director & Head of Investments of the FIT.

The FIT Food Tech aims at initiating potential investments and bringing together food-industry and start-ups. As part of the programme, the FIT will allocate loans of CHF 100’000.- to start-ups in Western Switzerland that have an innovative, sustainable and scalable business idea in the field of food and nutrition. FIT Food Tech is launched in partnership with Nestlé and it is open to other companies in the sector that might want to join. These corporates participating in the new FIT Food Tech will have the option to invest in the start-ups.

Closely related to the field of nutrition, the hospitality sector – including travel, tourism, and entertainment – offers significant potential for digital innovations. Therefore, just like the initial FIT Digital by EHL programme, Food & Hospitality by EHL will continue supporting digital start-ups addressing key challenges within these industries, with grants of CHF 20’000.- and loans of up to CHF 200’000.-. The start-ups participating in this programme will benefit from the infrastructure and network of EHL’s Innovation Village.

The FIT Food Tech and FIT Hospitality & Food by EHL programmes give start-ups options to speed up their business development activities and facilitate market entry. Applications to both programmes are open, with following characteristics:

FIT Food Tech
This programme targets start-ups with an innovative technological solution and looking to collaborate with a leader in the food industry. Companies active in the following areas are particularly welcome in the FIT Food Tech programme:

• Plant-based food & beverages;
• Personalized nutrition;
• Affordable and healthy nutrition;
• Sustainable packaging.

For more information or to apply for the programme:
fondation-fit.ch/en/fit-food-tech

FIT Hospitality & Food by EHL
The FIT Hospitality & Food by EHL programme is proud to support talented individuals and start-ups that provide digital-based solutions to key challenges in the Food & Hospitality industry (including travel and entertainment) and that wish to join the 20 start-ups already members of the EHL Innovation Village.

Since 2019, four start-ups have benefited from FIT Hospitality & Food by EHL: OriginFood, Freelane, Smeetz and PrivateDeal.

For more information or to apply for the programme:
fondation-fit.ch/food-hospitality-ehl

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Today, the Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley is thrilled to welcome a new team member, Yasemin Sharityar as Head of Impact Platforms.

Having German-Turkish roots, food always played an important role in Yasemin’s life.

“It takes hours to prepare, but only minutes to eat“, is what her mother says about her favorite Turkish dish called Yaprak Sarması. Seeing the effort that goes into preparing such a meal, tasting the different ingredients combined to perfection, and experiencing how her family celebrates food, taught Yasemin, already early in her life, that it is important to appreciate and value the food we eat.

While this is a nice story on a personal level, Yasemin quickly came to realize that, on a global level, there are major challenges related to our food.

Looking at her professional life, Yasemin worked in different fields and organizations from corporate, SME to startup – her latest position being in Marketing Strategy at Bühler Group.

Yasemin has been calling Zürich Switzerland her home for more than five years. She especially values the city’s diverse and tolerant culture, its proximity to mountains and lakes – and of course – the easy access to Swiss chocolate.

« I have a business background and I have developed a passion especially for sustainability and innovation related topics and projects. I am very excited to contribute to the SFNV with all my experiences and to shape the future of the Swiss food ecosystem and beyond together with you ! »

NEW OPENINGS

Join our team, apply below

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The report identifies that 286 key players and four major trends are driving and influencing the Swiss foodtech industry: sustainability, agriculture efficiency, and transparency of supply chains.

Today we see the beginning of a new era in the global food and nutrition sector. Significant shifts in consumer demand and behavior have been driving exponential growth across food production, processing, delivery and disposal and are unlocking frankly unprecedented opportunities for blue-sky innovation. Meanwhile Switzerland, leveraging an already formidable footing within the food industry, looks set to become one of the leaders in redefining and re-imagining food value chains.

This report is the result of a partnership between Accenture and the Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley. Both partners joined forces to map the FoodTech ecosystem of Switzerland – striving to provide deeper insights into the current state and future possibilities.

We have conducted a detailed mapping of the Swiss landscape through the lens of innovative FoodTechs: identifying an impressive 280+ key players spanning large corporates, trailblazing startups, academia, venture capitalists, and governmental organizations, this report shines a spotlight on the Swiss food innovation sector.

Among other findings, you will discover :

• Who the most influential Swiss FoodTech startups and ecosystem partners are and where they sit within the ecosystem of food innovation.
• The emerging trends in food technology and priority areas for Swiss enterprises.
• How Swiss actors are primed to become global shapers in technologies such as precision agriculture and sustainable protein sources.

This is the first version of the mapping, hence neither the map nor any listing in the whole report claims to be exhaustive. We will update the ecosystem map on a regular basis, which will increase its accuracy. Therefore, let’s co-create! Are you a part of the Swiss FoodTech ecosystem and missing on the map?

Please fill the form below to make sure you will be on the next version (quarterly update).

In partnership with Accenture

Matthias Hegele | LinkedIn
Managing Director
Accenture Strategy & Consulting Lead Switzerland 

Sebastian Guenther | LinkedIn
Innovation & Design Lead CH
Accenture Ventures Lead DACH

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The Nestlé R&D Accelerator opens its “nest” to accelerate dynamic food & beverage innovations that will delight consumers and enhance their lives.

The Nestlé R&D Accelerator offers a 6-month immersive entrepreneurial experience from “idea to shop”, empowering cross-functional teams to market their pioneering and disruptive solutions that embrace new science, technology and love of food.

The Accelerator brings startups, students, graduates, and Nestlé employees together for the fast-track development of a novel food & beverage solution. Whether the innovative idea is hooked in new science, leveraging new technologies, originated by early trends or is a white space opportunity, the Accelerator is the right place to turn an idea into reality in record time.

What does the Nestlé R&D Accelerator Offer?

The Accelerator provides access to co-development funds, infrastructure, expertise, coaching and mentorship from the largest food and beverage company in the world.

• Access to Expertise
• R&D Infrastructure
• Funding

How does it work?

1. Submit your innovation proposal to one of the open challenges or apply to join a venture team.
2. The Accelerator selection committee evaluates your submission.
3. The Accelerator informs you if you have been selected and prepares your enrolment.
4. You become part of a venture team in one of our Accelerators for 6 months. 
5. The Accelerator supports and coaches you, provides access to resources, expertise, and infrastructure.
6. Accelerator members will be mentored “on the go” during the venture, enabling team decisions and success.
7. Successful developments are brought to shopper and consumer merit by creating revenue with their value proposition.
8. The test launch results may open up further opportunities after your 6-month adventure.

For more information:

Nestlé Research
Route du Jorat 57
Lausanne, Vaud 1000, CH

You can also contact them here or check out their FAQ.

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CleantechAlps has just published a special report on agricultural technologies that target certain agricultural treatments to reduce the impact on the soil or relieve farmers in their daily work.

As elsewhere, agriculture in Switzerland is under pressure. Economic pressure first of all, with increased competition from abroad. And spatial pressure too, with the amount of land available to farming declining due to the rapidly increasing population and growing urbanisation. And lastly, popular pressure, with repeated demands from the Swiss population to reduce the environmental impacts of agriculture, particularly the use of crop treatments.

In this context, every avenue for optimising or improving land use must be exploited to protect the agri-environmental conditions, ensure that farms remain competitive and safeguard the country’s food security. Agritech is one solution that meets all these challenges.

CleantechAlps Report – Agritech in Switzerland: The panacea that squares the circle of productivity and climate protection?

CleantechAlps has recently published a special report on agricultural technologies (agritech). These technologies better target certain agricultural treatments to reduce the impact on the soil or relieve farmers in their daily work. Fribourg’s actors play a key role in pushing forward these agritech in Switzerland and internationally.

In particular, the companies Low Impact food, BVT – Bee Vectoring Technologies, iCube, Dootix, Bloom Biorenewables Ltd, Alver World SA, Groupe ELSA-Mifroma or JNJ automation SA and competence centres and initiatives such as Grangeneuve Institut, AgriCo – Swiss Campus for Agri & Food Innovation, NTN Innovation Booster Swiss Food Ecosystems, Adolphe Merkle Institute, Cluster Food & Nutrition, Groupe E Greenwatt and ECPF KAAB are key to the development of agritech in the canton of Fribourg. This vibrant ecosystem helps the agrifood industry to be more productive and respectful of the environment. These new technologies and initiatives help reduce the carbon footprint of this industry.

For more information:

CleantechAlps
c/o CimArk
rte du Rawil 47
1950 Sion

Telephone : +41 58 332 21 20 
E-mail : info@cleantech-alps.com

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