Applications open - Venture Exchange Program: Future Food 2.0

About the Venture Exchange Program

Our Venture Exchange Program: Future Food 2.0 (VEP) supports startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to engage with the world-class food innovation ecosystems in both countries and access complementary research capabilities to accelerate industry development.

The Program generates research and commercial ties between Australia and Singapore by providing startups and SMEs a gateway to each country’s agrifood ecosystems to advance future food innovation. Opportunities for research collaboration, attendance at premium events, venture building, business acceleration, local market knowledge sharing, coaching and mentoring are offered to participants of the Program.

VEP participating organisations are supported to:

• scope research collaboration prospects
• explore reciprocal market commercial opportunities
• develop go-to-market strategies
• engage across the value chain in both countries to identify synergies and build partnerships

Applications now open

After the success of the first round, we are excited to accept Expression of Interest (EOI) for round two of the VEP. 

Why should I apply?

The VEP offers a three-month opportunity for Australian and Singaporean tech start-ups and SMEs in agrifood industries to:

• encourage startups, SMEs and research collaborations to stimulate food, and future protein industry growth, and the acceleration of sustainability and food nutrition
• generate new, world-leading knowledge and technology in food and future proteins that can be translated into marketing insights, commercial projects, new companies and development for the agriculture and food industry
• build food and future protein scientific capability for both countries that addresses major national challenges

As a participant you will have the opportunity to:

• access world-class R&D facilities and collaboration opportunities with leading scientists in Australia and Singapore
• receive coaching sessions identifying potential research collaboration and value chain opportunities
• attend premium events such as AgriFutures evokeAG in Australia and the FHA-Food & Beverage trade show in Singapore, providing valuable engagement opportunities
• participate in networking sessions with cohort peers and key ecosystem stakeholders
• engage with specialist providers, for example legal, marketing, commercialisation and other services to facilitate know how and connections

Am I eligible to apply?

To be eligible to apply, you must meet the following criteria:

• be a company that is either:
  • incorporated in Australia with an ABN and ACN or an incorporated trustee applying on behalf of a trust or
  • incorporated in Singapore with a Unique Entity Number (UEN); or a foreign company with a registered entity in Singapore with a UEN
  • a foreign company which has participated in a Singapore tech accelerator program and/or received investment from a Singapore registered fund/venture capital
• have less than 200 employees
• have a technology/solution that aligns with the agrifood sector

Application process

The application process consists of two stages.

Stage one: Submit an Expression of Interest form

• the EOI will ask you a series of questions around the assessment criteria outlined in the Program Guidelines
•  your application will be assessed based on the weighting given to each criterion and competitively rank against other submitted EOIs
• the level of detail included in your EOI should reflect what you want the assessors to understand about your application

Stage two: by invitation only, participate in an evaluation discussion

• during evaluation discussions you will speak with up to two assessors and may be requested to provide supporting evidence for your answers around the assessment criteria
• evaluation may commence during the EOI period and will conclude no later than 13 December 2024
• companies may be invited for a discussion with assessors soon after submitting an EOI, as such we encourage early EOI submissions

To apply

Before applying, thoroughly read the below documentation, and complete all required fields.

Key documents:

• Expression of Interest form
• Venture Exchange Program Guidelines, Future Food 2.0 | accessible text version
• FAQs | accessible text version 
• Privacy statement | accessible text version 

I would recommend the VEP to others as it is a great chance to validate your thinking, expand new ideas, collaborate, build networks and strengthen your business development road map.

— Jeannine Malcolm, Mobius Farms

The networking opportunities and mentorship significantly expanded my professional network. I highly recommend the CSIRO Venture Exchange Program to future participants. Whether you are a new start-up looking to commercialise your innovation, a young company aiming to diversify your research and commercial connections, or someone seeking to enhance your career prospects, this program offers unparalleled opportunities for growth and development.

— Birdie Scott Padam, Seadling Pty Ltd

Contact

For more information about the EOI process or the VEP Program contact VEP@csiro.au

About the Venture Exchange Program

Our Venture Exchange Program: Future Food 2.0 (VEP) supports startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to engage with the world-class food innovation ecosystems in both countries and access complementary research capabilities to accelerate industry development.

The Program generates research and commercial ties between Australia and Singapore by providing startups and SMEs a gateway to each country’s agrifood ecosystems to advance future food innovation. Opportunities for research collaboration, attendance at premium events, venture building, business acceleration, local market knowledge sharing, coaching and mentoring are offered to participants of the Program.

VEP participating organisations are supported to:

• scope research collaboration prospects
• explore reciprocal market commercial opportunities
• develop go-to-market strategies
• engage across the value chain in both countries to identify synergies and build partnerships

Applications now open

After the success of the first round, we are excited to accept Expression of Interest (EOI) for round two of the VEP. 

Why should I apply?

The VEP offers a three-month opportunity for Australian and Singaporean tech start-ups and SMEs in agrifood industries to:

• encourage startups, SMEs and research collaborations to stimulate food, and future protein industry growth, and the acceleration of sustainability and food nutrition
• generate new, world-leading knowledge and technology in food and future proteins that can be translated into marketing insights, commercial projects, new companies and development for the agriculture and food industry
• build food and future protein scientific capability for both countries that addresses major national challenges

As a participant you will have the opportunity to:

• access world-class R&D facilities and collaboration opportunities with leading scientists in Australia and Singapore
• receive coaching sessions identifying potential research collaboration and value chain opportunities
• attend premium events such as AgriFutures evokeAG in Australia and the FHA-Food & Beverage trade show in Singapore, providing valuable engagement opportunities
• participate in networking sessions with cohort peers and key ecosystem stakeholders
• engage with specialist providers, for example legal, marketing, commercialisation and other services to facilitate know how and connections

Am I eligible to apply?

To be eligible to apply, you must meet the following criteria:

• be a company that is either:
  • incorporated in Australia with an ABN and ACN or an incorporated trustee applying on behalf of a trust or
  • incorporated in Singapore with a Unique Entity Number (UEN); or a foreign company with a registered entity in Singapore with a UEN
  • a foreign company which has participated in a Singapore tech accelerator program and/or received investment from a Singapore registered fund/venture capital
• have less than 200 employees
• have a technology/solution that aligns with the agrifood sector

Application process

The application process consists of two stages.

Stage one: Submit an Expression of Interest form

• the EOI will ask you a series of questions around the assessment criteria outlined in the Program Guidelines
•  your application will be assessed based on the weighting given to each criterion and competitively rank against other submitted EOIs
• the level of detail included in your EOI should reflect what you want the assessors to understand about your application

Stage two: by invitation only, participate in an evaluation discussion

• during evaluation discussions you will speak with up to two assessors and may be requested to provide supporting evidence for your answers around the assessment criteria
• evaluation may commence during the EOI period and will conclude no later than 13 December 2024
• companies may be invited for a discussion with assessors soon after submitting an EOI, as such we encourage early EOI submissions

To apply

Before applying, thoroughly read the below documentation, and complete all required fields.

Key documents:

• Expression of Interest form
• Venture Exchange Program Guidelines, Future Food 2.0 PDF (234 KB) | accessible text version TXT (34 KB)
• FAQs PDF (131 KB) | accessible text version TXT (8 KB) 
• Privacy statement PDF (113 KB) | accessible text version TXT (5 KB) 

I would recommend the VEP to others as it is a great chance to validate your thinking, expand new ideas, collaborate, build networks and strengthen your business development road map.

— Jeannine Malcolm, Mobius Farms

The networking opportunities and mentorship significantly expanded my professional network. I highly recommend the CSIRO Venture Exchange Program to future participants. Whether you are a new start-up looking to commercialise your innovation, a young company aiming to diversify your research and commercial connections, or someone seeking to enhance your career prospects, this program offers unparalleled opportunities for growth and development.

— Birdie Scott Padam, Seadling Pty Ltd

Contact

For more information about the EOI process or the VEP Program contact VEP@csiro.au