From multinational companies like Nestlé, Bühler and Givaudan through world class academic institutions like ETH Zurich and EPFL to rapidly scaling startups like Planted and Ecorobotix - Switzerland boasts a thriving, collaboration-driven food innovation ecosystem.
But despite ranking first globally for Research & Development collaborations and providing access to extensive innovation infrastructure and a highly qualified workforce, Switzerland isn’t yet a top-of-mind destination for innovative food companies.
Attracting global innovators
This is something that a new partnership between Switzerland Global Enterprise and Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley seeks to change. By bringing together SFNV's ecosystem of over 140 Swiss food companies with S-GE's global network, the partners aim to catalyse cross-border collaborations and knowledge exchange. Together they will highlight Switzerland’s unique business advantages to global innovators and strengthen the Swiss food ecosystem by attracting high value-adding settlements to the country.
S-GE is thrilled to join forces with Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley to amplify Switzerland's presence in the global food innovation landscape. This strategic collaboration underscores our commitment to driving innovation, sustainability, and growth in the food sector, said Sirpa Tsimal, Director Global Marketing from S-GE.
Christina Senn-Jakobsen, Managing Director at Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley added: "By connecting into S-GE's unique global network, we’re well positioned to reach out to international innovators, share what Switzerland has to offer as a food nation and welcome them into our diverse ecosystem."
This strategic collaboration underscores our commitment to driving innovation, sustainability, and growth in the food sector.
Switzerland as a global hub
Switzerland’s position as a global hub for food and nutrition innovation will be elevated by this new partnership.
One such innovator is B’ZEOS, a green-tech startup originally founded in Norway, which is harnessing the power of seaweed to revolutionise packaging. As a technology provider, B’ZEOS specialises in formulating and compounding innovative seaweed-based pellets, which serve as the foundation for a diverse range of final products. The company’s goal is to replace traditional fossil-based plastics with regenerative, fully biodegradable, and home compostable materials. Switzerland's extensive network of corporates in the food and care sector, along with its robust investor network, drew B’ZEOS to establish its presence here. The Lausanne-based startup has since launched several paid pilots with Swiss corporations.
The team behind OneAgrix is also excited about Switzerland as a business location. Pioneering a global digital ecosystem with industry 4.0 smart-tech solutions, the Zug-based company simplifies every step of global agri- and faith-based food trade to ensure greater visibility, transparency, traceability, and trust.
Matthew Hoffer, Managing Director Europe & Middle East at OneAgrix AG, commented: “As a company with roots in Singapore, our attraction to Switzerland stems from its pivotal role as a gateway for our growth and expansion into Europe. Switzerland offers an exceptional business environment, unparalleled innovations, and a proactive 'can-do' attitude that enhances the resilience of food value chains. Operating within the food trade ecosystem, these attributes align perfectly with our fundamental strategy aimed at enhancing trust and transparency for both FMCG manufacturers and food brand owners at the start of the value chain, as well as for end-customers.”
Cedric Verstraeten, CEO of revyve, a company creating sustainable ingredients from circularly sourced microbial biomass with offices in Wageningen and Zurich, agrees: "Switzerland's reputation as a hub for cutting-edge technology and forward-thinking business practices perfectly complements our mission at revyve, originally funded in the Dutch Food Nutrition Valley. Our partnership with Swiss food and ingredients manufacturers allows us to enhance our ability to deliver natural, animal-free, and high-performing texturizing ingredients to consumers worldwide. We’re thrilled to continue benefiting from two of the most powerful food ecosystems in Europe and contributing to Switzerland's thriving food ecosystem.”
The partnership between SFNV and S-GE will combine SFNV's extensive network of food innovators like B’ZEOS and OneAgrix with S-GE's international reach to foster cross-border collaboration, enhance Switzerland's appeal as a prime location for food innovation and attract investment into the country's food sector.
Switzerland offers an exceptional business environment, unparalleled innovations, and a proactive 'can-do' attitude that enhances the resilience of food value chains.
