Food innovation lab opens to boost SMEs

The Ministry of Science and Technology is opening a food lab for SME businesses to conduct their own research on food product development free of charge, under close supervision by scientists from Silpakorn University.

The project aims to eventually push the country into grabbing international markets on food innovation.

Initially, 30 SME food entrepreneurs will be selected to use the National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office’s Future Food Lab to develop their own food products under the 3-5-month time frame, Atchaka Sibunruang, minister to the Ministry of Science and Technology, said.

The pilot project has received a 20 million baht budget, she said.

She explained the Food Future Lab has been established as part of the government’s Thailand 4.0 goal, which would require each industry or business sector to have technology and innovation to add value to their products, including the food industry.

Thailand has played a key role as part of the top 12 community exporters in world markets for goods such as rice, sugar, poultry and more at a value of 970 billion baht per year, or 12.8% of total export value. It is expected the value of exports will grow to 10.5 trillion baht by this year, she said.

However, she said those communities might not be able to bring in more money due to changes in customer behaviour, so technology and innovation for food development is key to helping the country engage in the sector.

The National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office, Agricultural Research Development Agency and Silpakorn University signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Driving Food Innovation for Food Entrepreneurs, to work together in food innovation.

“I do hope they will get more benefits from the project by developing their food products. It will also encourage others to use technology and innovation to improve their products,” she said.

According to the ministry’s survey, the private sector last year spent 60 billion baht on research and development and the highest amount of 12 billion baht went to the food sector.

Kitipong Promwong, secretary-general of National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office, said the government’s key policy for upgrading food businesses in the country, called FoodInnopolis, is a response to the global trend of eating good food for good health. It focuses on the development of functional, healthy and premium food.