Frutarom Ltd. Israel is opening FoodNxt, its fully equipped innovation lab for food-tech startups in north Israel. The company invites Israeli food-tech and ingredient companies to join in for mutually beneficial collaborations. The innovation lab will focus on developing all-natural ingredients for the global food and beverage industry.

More than 80 food-tech startups are based in Israel, with rapid double-digit growth rate expected by 2020.

Frutarom was selected, following a tender procedure, by the Israel Innovation Authority to operate the innovation lab for a period of three years. Start-ups chosen to join FoodNxt by Frutarom will be granted up to 85 percent of their approved R&D expenses (up to NIS 1 million, or about $300,000 USD) for the purpose of reaching a proof of concept. The innovation lab is led by Gali Artzi, PhD, Frutarom innovation director. Artzi, with extensive experience as an R&D professional, has held commercial positions in the industry since 2010. She previously held key roles at VAYA Pharma, Inc. (U.S.) and Enzymotec, Israel, and has a BSc in biology and a PhD in cell research and immunology, both from Tel Aviv University.

The FoodNxt professional team will help selected startups formulate their products to meet all international regulations, develop patent strategy, build business plans and test the market. FoodNxt offers access to Frutarom’s portfolio for developing and testing on modular platforms, and connect Israeli innovation with the food and health ingredient markets.

“Israel being a ‘start-up nation’ is not just a cliché,” said Yoni Glickman, president of Frutarom Natural Solutions. “Start-ups have become the growth engine of the food industry, and Frutarom, through FoodNxt, is working to accelerate this innovation—by providing know-how, processes, technologies, and expertise to help overcome challenges, nurture development, and launch new products into the global market.”

For more information, visitwww.frutarom.com.