SPACE-F Announces Batch III of its FoodTech Accelerator and Incubator Program

BANGKOK – November 5, 2021 – SPACE-F, the global FoodTech startup Incubator and Accelerator Program, headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, announces Batch III of its FoodTech program. Estab-lished through cooperation between the National Innovation Agency (Public Organization) or NIA, Thai Union Group PCL, and Mahidol University, SPACE-F runs an innovative curriculum based on networking and mentorship meant to pioneer DeepTech innovation with FoodTech startups – responding to the trends of the food industry.

The applications for SPACE-F Batch III are open now until 22 November 2021, with a maximum of 20 startups to be selected, for both the Accelerator and Incubator Programs. The Accelerator Program runs for five months and is designed around strategic partnerships and scaling up, while the Incubator Program runs for nine months with the aim of product development and launch. Batch III of this program is powered by Nest ASEAN.

"At NIA, we have the sole aim of enhancing National Innovation Systems (NIS) of Thailand, a process based on strategic cooperation with innovative organizations across the country and all over the world," says Dr. Pun-arj Chairatana, Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency (Public Organization). "With SPACE-F Batch III, we look forward to supporting and developing startups who are innovating in DeepTech and working towards advancing the future of food; as well as driving Bangkok to be known as the ‘FoodTech Silicon Valley of the world'."

"As a leading agent of change for the advancement of the seafood industry, Thai Union recognizes that collaboration with innovative FoodTech startups is the way to drive the future of food. SPACE-F provides a collaborative ecosystem for FoodTech startups to work with strategic partners to bring their products to market in Thailand and across the world," says Thiraphong Chansiri, CEO of Thai Union Group PCL.

Some of the notable startups from Batch II, 2020, include Avant Meats, a company that has worked ex-tensively cultivating and reengineering fish cell tissue, as alternative meat. IXON Food Technology, tackling the issue of shelf life with food packaging that sterilizes high perishable items at low tempera-tures. Profile Print, the first company in the world to have patented AI food fingerprinting technology, that is tackling issues in the entire food supply chain. Yindii, an innovative App-driven organization that is tackling food waste, particularly in the restaurant space.

"There is no doubt that food is the most important element for living and health, and that Mahidol Uni-versity has a strong background in health research within food technology. With our mission to apply the knowledge to benefit mankind, it's an honor to join the SPACE-F program. We look forward to engaging with food entrepreneurs from around the world," says Prof. Banchong Mahaisavariya, M.D., President of Mahidol University.

About NIA

NIA's mission is to support and develop Thailand's innovation system, in both the way of improvement and initiation, to promote economic restructuring and competitive enhancement. NIA functions as the key engine driving national innovation by co-creation, networking, fostering, and partnering different organizations from various fields such as academic, technology, industry, finance, and investment. Its main focus is on utilizing knowledge management to achieve innovation, particularly to foster "innova-tion on cluster platform" which uses innovation as the principal tool in improving quality of life and driv-ing towards an increasing competitive economy.

About Thai Union Group

Thai Union Group PCL is the world's seafood leader, bringing high quality, healthy, tasty and innovative seafood products to customers across the world for more than 40 years.

Today, Thai Union is regarded as one of the world's leading seafood producers and is one of the largest producers of shelf-stable tuna products with annual sales exceeding THB 132.4 billion (US$ 4.2 billion) and a global workforce of more than 44,000 people who are dedicated to pioneering sustainable, inno-vative seafood products.

The company's global brand portfolio includes market-leading international brands such as Chicken of the Sea, John West, Petit Navire, Parmentier, Mareblu, King Oscar, and Rügen Fisch, Thai-leading brands SEALECT, Fisho, Qfresh, Monori, Bellotta and Marvo, and ingredient and supplement brands UniQ™BONE, UniQ™DHA and ZEAvita.

As a company committed to innovation and globally responsible behavior, Thai Union is proud to be a member of the United Nations Global Compact, and a founding member of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). In 2015, Thai Union introduced its SeaChange® sustainability strategy. Find out more at seachangesustainability.org. Thai Union's on-going work on sustainability issues was recognized when the company was listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for the seventh consecutive year in 2020, and ranked number two in the world on the Food Products Industry Index. Thai Union was also named to the FTSE4Good Emerging Index for the fifth straight year in 2020.

About Mahidol University

Mahidol University has its origins in the establishment of Siriraj Hospital in 1888 by His Majesty King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), and the hospital's medical school is the oldest institution of higher learning in Thailand. This diversified institution now offers top quality programs in numerous social and cultural dis-ciplines, including the most doctoral programs of any institution in Thailand, yet has maintained its tradi-tional excellence in medicine and the sciences.

On 16 October 2007, the Thailand National legislative Assembly approved Mahidol University as an au-tonomous institution. This transformation will enhance the university's efficiency, flexibility, and ability to innovate, and standardize its practices with those of other world-class universities. The ultimate goal is to promote healthy living and well-being for the benefit of people based on research, technology and innovation. Currently, Mahidol University is ranked No. 1 in Thailand by many internationally recognized institution rankings.

About Nest ASEAN

Nest is a global Innovation Agency with offices in Bangkok, Nairobi, and London. With a vision for tech-nological disruption, and unconventional business practices, Nest ASEAN has supported over 50 pro-grams that collaborate and bring together the corporate world and the startup ecosystem in FinTech, AgriTech, and FoodTech.

Nest ASEAN has been acquired by Xpdite Capital Partners in September, 2020. To find out more about how we expedite growth in Asia, please visit http://www.xpditecapital.com