A few days ago, the ICEX Auditorium presented the conclusions of the third report on the Foodtech sector in Spain. In the framework of a networking event, there has been a debate with some of the protagonists of the ecosystem about the challenges and the internationalization strategy for this sector. The Foodtech sector is an essential link in the Spanish food industry. An intense transformation of food is taking place as a result of the impact of new technologies and the foodtech ecosystem is called to play an essential role in this process in the coming years.
Thus, in a context of global contraction, investment in the Foodtech sector in Spain in 2022 has increased by 9.38%, reaching 268 million euros, discounting the Glovo effect, according to the report “Addressing new challenges across the food value chain” promoted by ICEX España Exportación e Inversiones. But not only has it been able to attract important investment operations with national and international players, but there has also been a significant increase in the number of operators in the ecosystem: 412 startups, compared to 407 last year, more than 30,000 food processing companies involved, as well as more than 50 specialized universities and 20 cutting-edge technology centers involved.
This third report also points out that, in order to consolidate in the ecosystem, it is essential to have a high capacity and technological strength, which translates into patents, trade secrets and trademarks. Thus, 32.9% of the 412 Spanish startups have a patent for their technology and 29% have a trade secret, which indicates the strengthening of Spanish companies in the sector.
In addition, during 2022, the percentage of startups that have developed their own technology has increased even more. In this area, there is spectacular growth in the use of technologies, mainly startups that use artificial intelligence (AI), which go from 28.21 to 40.79%, gaining 12 points compared to the previous year.
It is worth noting the contribution of the sector in terms of circular economyproviding these technologies that allow the revaluation of by-products, thus reducing waste and creating new uses that range from packaging to ingredients.
ICEX, dynamic agent
The CEO of ICEX, María Peña, has inaugurated the event to present the report, highlighting that it is “a fundamental sector of attracting capital and investment in startups”. He has stressed that “It has become a key with a high added value in any strategy in favor of the knowledge and expansion of our ecosystem of innovative and technological entrepreneurs” and has also pointed out “the sector’s commitment to sustainability and making this attribute its flag”.
The CEO has also highlighted that “There is no promotional strategy that is not based on knowledge”, and in that sense, “this report, within the framework of our alliance with Eatable Adventures, is undoubtedly a fundamental element of that knowledge”.
At the end of her speech, María Peña wanted to record that “if Spain will continue to be a Spain Food Nationit will be because it is also a Spain Foodtech Nation”.
ICEX has a whole range of instruments support to the Foodtech sector: in addition to providing strategic information in key countries, it dedicates an area in Invest in Spain and also a section of the Foods and Wines from Spain (FWFS) portal to give it maximum international visibility and make it a flagship of our food industry.
In addition, from ICEX these lines of work are developed to give more strength to our external projection as Spain Foodtech Nation:
- Organization of webinars to present the Spanish sector in strategic markets such as Japan, Israel or Singapore.
- Promotion of alliances with all agents in the ecosystem: agreements with accelerators, hubs and technology centers in their own programs (Spain Foodtech from Eatable Adventures, Open Innovation Programs from KM ZERO or CNTA)
- Design of programs aimed at strengthening our startups and scaleups in critical ecosystems such as the Dutch one, with the third call for the DESAFIA FOODTECH NL program. Likewise, CHALLENGE Tel Aviv, for purely digital companies.
- Development of support programs for international investors in our industry such as INNOVAINVEST, which has already closed such important operations in 2022 as the Biotech foods operation, in which JBS participates, with more than 750,000 euros.
