About this programme

Food Pioneers Accelerator is committed to making the food chain more efficient, sustainable and healthy. New technologies and innovations play a major role in solving these societal challenges.

More and more companies are developing solutions that use raw materials more efficiently, make production healthier and are better for us and our environment. We support SMEs and SMBs in the southern Netherlands and Flanders with innovative food solutions in the technical scale-up phase to find a demo or production partner.

For many entrepreneurs, it turns out to be difficult to take the step to technical scale-up after the lab and pilot phase. Food Pioneers Accelerator supports these companies and puts them in contact with new production partners across the border to find a faster way to market together.

Once such a ‘match’ is made, an application can be submitted for guidance and financial support for the scale-up issue. Innovations that, for example, contribute to a better valorisation of side and residual streams from food production, or that help make new plant-based products such as meat and dairy substitutes tastier and healthier, are thus given a boost.

The Food Pioneers Accelerator project group consists of three organisations from the south of the Netherlands and three from Flanders, all focused on driving innovation in many different areas. Development and knowledge centres, including innovative demo and production facilities, are strongly represented in this border region. With our knowledge, network and subsidies, we support entrepreneurs with their technical scaling-up issues.

Criteria participating companies

What does an organisation need to meet to be eligible for support?

• Based in the southern Netherlands (Zeeland, North Brabant or Limburg) or Flanders;
• Self-employed;
• Less than 250 employees and;
• An annual turnover of no more than €50 million or a balance sheet total of no more than €43 million.
• If the company has been in existence for more than 3 years, the equity must be more than 50% of the issued capital.

Project criteria

• The innovation contributes to making the food chain more sustainable. Examples include reusing side and residue streams, making plant-based products such as meat and dairy substitutes tastier and healthier, or a more environmentally friendly or healthier production process;
• The lab or test phase is completed and the developed product is ready to make the step to a commercial end product;
• It involves a technical scale-up issue such as conducting a pilot production or solving a feasibility issue.

What support do we offer?

Do your organisation and issue meet the criteria? Then we will be happy to start working for you. Together, we will map out the issue. Then we will look for a production partner across the border who can carry it out. For subsidy applications, it is important that it is a cross-border collaboration.

Once the match and budget have been made, an application can be submitted for financial support. In this, we distinguish two types of scale-up projects:

A small scale-up project is a feasibility request with a budget between €25,000 and €125,000. This involves solving a technical, legal and possibly (partly) economic feasibility question. For example, questions on product sustainability, technology exploration or a specific production component

A large scale-up project is a demonstration of a pilot production with a budget between €125,000 and €250,000. This involves demonstrating a pre-commercial production. For example, conducting pilot productions on a large scale to overcome technical and economic obstacles to scale-up.

How it works

• We start with an introductory meeting in which we find out what kind of production partner you are looking for and whether the scale-up issue qualifies for support.
• Then we will search the Food Pioneers Accelerator network for the best production partner across the border for implementation.
• Once the match and budget are made, an application for funding up to 50% of the budget for implementation can be submitted.
• Once a quarter, all applications are reviewed by our committee of independent experts.
• When your application is approved, you can get started! You will also be guided by us during implementation. An interim and final report will be requested.

More information (Pdf in Dutch)

Food Pioneers Accelerator kick-off event!

Monday, November 4, 2024 | 13:30 - 18:00 | Helmond
At this event, we will present Food Pioneers Accelerator and explain how we are boosting the food chain to become more efficient, sustainable and healthy.
Learn more