CSIRO offers innovation initiative for food industry SMEs

CSIRO has announced that it has opened its Innovate to Grow program to small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) hoping to advance their innovative ideas in food innovation and technology.

Led by experienced researchers, the program will help participants examine technical and business challenges, explore R&D opportunities, and develop actionable business and funding plans for their R&D idea.

CSIRO’s Agriculture and Food Deputy Director Impact, Dr Michelle Colgrave, said SMEs are key to Australia continuing to grow its reputation as a global leader in food technology.

“We can combine innovations in fermentation with ‘customer-driven’ preferences to deliver reduced-sugar beverages, or no- and low-alcohol wines,” Colgrave said. “To match our growing population, changing climates and evolving consumer preferences, there’s an increasing need to diversify and develop new food and beverages that will be sustainable into the future.

“We are well-positioned to do that in Australia with our access to the latest technologies and brightest minds. SMEs will be an important part of that, driving innovation right along the supply chain while delivering sustainable outcomes for the future of our food manufacturing.”

Since launching in 2020, Innovate to Grow has helped more than 600 early-stage R&D companies access the knowledge and tools required to progress their ideas.

Innovate to Grow: Food Innovation is open to SMEs working in the following subsectors:

• Beverage manufacturing
• Food production
• Traditional and complementary proteins
• Biomanufacturing including precision fermentation
• Sustainable processing
• Value-adding processes
   

Applications close on 25 August 2024. Learn more and apply for the Innovate to Grow: Food Innovation program here.

Image credit: iStock.com/Traimak_Ivan