Food Tech Brainport

What Food Tech Brainport does

Food Tech Brainport (legal entity: Stichting Food Tech Brainport, with operating subsidiary Food Tech Brainport BV) is a non-profit food innovation ecosystem founded in 2014 and headquartered at Scheepsboulevard 3, 5705 KZ Helmond, Netherlands. The organization operates a physical food processing facility that hosts a network of technology providers offering mild food processing technologies — including High Pressure Processing (HPP, via Pascal Processing), Pulsed Electric Field (PEF, via ELEA GmbH since 2019), Radio Magnetic Freezing (RMF, via RMF Europe BV), membrane separation, and thin film vacuum drying — at laboratory, pilot, and production scale. Its stated focus areas are 100% valorization of raw materials, longer shelf life through mild preservation, and handsfree food processing.

Food Tech Brainport serves four primary segments: startups and scaleups in food processing, SMB/MKB food processing companies, technology providers seeking a showcase location, and research/educational institutions (HAS Green Academy, Wageningen UR, Fontys, Yuverta). Named member companies include Van Rijsingen Green, Bodec, Carezzo, BeefyGreen, Botanic Bites, PeelPioneers, Upprinting Food, and JBT/Avure Technologies. The Application Center for Sustainable Food Processing (ACSF) is a joint initiative with HAS Hogeschool for applied research and valorization.

The organization's revenue model is multi-stream: (1) tiered partnership membership fees ranging from €500/year (Startup) to €7,500/year (Corporate), with capped organization counts per tier to guarantee service quality; (2) project-based revenue from initiating and participating in regional, national, and European projects (Food from Food, FOX, Cotemaco, Paprika Cluster, PPS Reststromen); and (3) facility access fees for lab, pilot, and production runs. Public-sector subsidies from Gemeente Helmond and Provincie Noord-Brabant support the path to financial independence. The organization has no profit motive and is governed by a Supervisory Board with representatives from HAS Hogeschool, Huijbregts Groep, AAE BV, and Rabobank Oost-Brabant.

Name

Food Tech Brainport

Legal name

Food Tech Brainport

Website

https://foodtechbrainport.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Food Tech Brainport is a non-profit food innovation ecosystem in Helmond, Netherlands, operating a shared food processing facility and connecting startups, SMBs, technology providers, and educational institutions to mild processing technologies such as HPP, PEF, and RMF.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Technology Innovation Services

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311), Other Food Manufacturing (3119), Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)

akta.pro primary industry

Plant-Based Prepared Meals & Convenience Foods Manufacturing (AFAKAGAL)

Keywords

• Food processing facility
• Mild food processing
• Food technology innovation
• High pressure processing
• Food valorization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Helmond

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Partnership Membership Fees: Annual membership fees based on organization size: Startup (€500), Small (€1,500), Medium (€2,500), Large (€3,500), Extra Large (€5,000), Corporate (€7,500). Fee guarantees quality of services with maximum number of organizations per category.
2. Project-based Revenue: Revenue from initiating and participating in regional, national and European projects, both 1-on-1 and collaborative.
3. Facility Access Fees: Fees for access to joint food processing facility with sustainable innovative technologies, including lab, pilot testing and production runs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Food Tech Brainport operates a physical food-grade processing facility in Helmond, Netherlands, where it provides startups, scaleups, and SMB food processors with access to innovative mild food processing technologies (HPP, PEF, RMF, membrane separation, thin film vacuum drying) on laboratory, pilot, and production scale. The organization runs a tiered partnership membership program, initiates and participates in regional/national/European projects focused on 100% valorization, longer shelf life, and handsfree production, and connects partner companies to research institutions, talent, and capital.

Product overview

Food Tech Brainport is a physical innovation ecosystem (not a software company) consisting of a food processing facility, technology provider network, partnership program, talent and education services, and project clusters. The core offering is a food-grade facility in Helmond, Netherlands, where technology providers and food processing companies can access innovative processing technologies including High Pressure Processing (HPP), Pulsed Electric Field (PEF), and Radio Magnetic Freezing (RMF). The organization connects food processing companies to technologies, talent, research, and capital through tiered partnership programs and collaborative projects focused on 100% valorization, longer shelf life, and hands-free production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Processing Facility A physical food-grade facility in Helmond, Netherlands offering laboratory, pilot, and production scale space for testing, scaling up, and production of food products. Provides temporary or permanent residency, office space, and a showroom for demonstrating innovative food processing technologies. Targets food processing startups, SMBs, and technology providers.
• Partnership Program Tiered annual membership program offering participation in the Food Tech community, knowledge sharing, initiation of regional/national/European projects, direct connection with research institutions, advocacy, exposure via website and social media, access to funding and innovation vouchers, and access to the joint food processing facility. Tiers range from Startup (€500/year) to Corporate (€7,500/year).
• Project Clusters Initiated and actively participated projects focused on 100% valorization, longer shelf life, and hands-free production. Includes Food from Food, Cotemaco, FOX (Food in a Box), Paprika Cluster, PPS Reststromen, and Biobased Innovations Garden. Involves regional, national, and European collaborations.
• Talent and Education Services Collaboration with educational institutions (HAS Green Academy, Fontys, Yuverta, Wageningen University) to prepare students for careers in the food industry through applied research, masterclasses, internships, and practical assignments in an authentic food-grade environment.
• Application Center for Sustainable Food Processing (ACSF) Joint initiative with HAS Hogeschool focusing on applied research and valorization of mild food processing technologies (HPP, RMF, PEF, membrane separation, thin film vacuum drying) with focus on ingredients from plant-based flows and longer shelf life.

Quantifiable outcome

• HPP extends product shelf life 3-5 times
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• HAS Green Academy (HAS Hogeschool)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Intensive collaboration since 2019 with defined research lines. Together prepare students for careers in food industry. Jointly established Application Center for Sustainable Food Processing (ACSF). Collaboration includes annual masterclass for food technology students.
• Wageningen University and Research (WUR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntensive collaboration in various projects and programs. WUR contributes scientific applied research; FTB handles market translation. Focus on sustainable food chains and 'green' alternatives.
• Pascal ProcessingcoreTechnology or IntegrationFirst and most advanced HPP service provider in Europe since 2011. Resident of Food Tech Brainport providing preservation technology for shelf life and clean label products. Active participant in projects including Makel-Schakel program.
• BodeccoreTechnology or IntegrationExpert in process optimization for food industry since 1994. One of the first residents and valorization/upscaling partner. Works on scaling up, design and startup of factories and production lines.
• ELEA GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner for PEF (Pulsed Electric Field) technology. Since 2019, PEF system installed at FTB production location. Over 175 PEF systems installed worldwide. Collaboration on European projects.
• RMF Europe BVcoreTechnology or IntegrationRadio Magnetic Freezing technology provider. Technology offers 20% energy savings and prevents quality degradation. Located at FTB facility for food processing industry access.
• JBT/Avure TechnologiesmajorTechnology or IntegrationLeading HPP processing systems supplier. Showcase location at Food Tech Brainport Park with kitchen facility for product demonstrations near high pressure pascalization machine.
• Fontys HogescholenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntensified collaboration since 2019 with defined research lines. Provides students place for practical assignments in authentic environment preparing them for food processing industry careers.
• Stichting Samen Tegen VoedselverspillingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMovement to reduce food waste by half by 2030. FTB is founding father and fulfills board function. Aligned goals with FTB mission.
• Gemeente HelmondcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnables FTB to grow into independent organization together with Provincie Noord-Brabant through financial contribution. Supports food technology as economic spearhead.
• Provincie Noord-BrabantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnables FTB to realize food processing facility and supports food innovation agenda. Provides financial contribution for test factory realization.
• Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik (DIL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman food technology institute with 175+ member companies. Knowledge partner and cooperation in European projects. Developed PEF technologies commercialized by ELEA.
• ILVOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlemish research institute for agriculture, fisheries and food. Intensified collaboration since May 2019. Monitors trends and identifies research projects. Essential for cross-border guidance.
• Brainport DevelopmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnects technology sector to food processing industry. Brainport region strong in robotics, AI, sensor and vision technology. Accelerates development of future-proof technologies.
• Flanders MakemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic research center for manufacturing industry with 700+ researchers. Leading partner in Cotemaco project managing collaborative robotics for SMEs.
• Flanders FoodmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation platform for Flemish agri-food industry. Collaboration since 2015 to enable entrepreneurs smarter use of by-products and combat food waste.
• RabobankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative bank with 125 years of food sector focus. Advisory sparring partner on sector knowledge. Regional collaboration replacing former local cooperation.
• Huijbregts GroepmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily business mixing powder raw materials for food industry for 85+ years. Member of Supervisory Board since June 2021. Provides expertise for service optimization.
• AAE BVmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh-tech machine builder with 400+ employees since 1976. Member of Supervisory Board since June 2021. Enables optimal support for technology questions.
• YuvertamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEurope's largest vmbo and mbo educator in blue-green domain. Collaboration to excite students for food industry. Students learn about innovative technologies.
• FoodWorkxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner30+ years international food industry experience. Co-founder of FTB from beginning. Involved in Makel Schakel Programme, scouting technologies, international collaborations.
• Verbruggen PaddestoelenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganic oyster mushroom grower. Supported within Food from Food project for full residual flow valorization research.
• FoodWorkxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder of FTB. 30+ years experience in international food industry specializing in growth scenarios and change management.
• Keep Food SimplemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit focused on maximum raw material utilization. Collaboration mainly within bell pepper cluster investigating residual flow possibilities.
• InterregmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth-West Europe program enabling transnational collaborations. Enabled completion of Food from Food project. Provides cross-border added value.
• Van Rijsingen GreencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily business for 50+ years growing and selling vegetables. Co-founder and board member of FTB. FTB helped realize processing line for juices, concentrates, fibers.
• TNOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner collaborating with Bodec on R&D trajectories for new technology development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Food Valley NL: Dutch food innovation ecosystem based in Wageningen that connects companies, research institutes and government in agrifood innovation, similar community-led GTM model and ecosystem aggregation of food-tech capabilities.
• Flanders Food: Flemish agri-food innovation platform and explicit FTB collaboration partner since 2015; aggregates Flemish food companies, knowledge institutions and projects on by-product valorization and food waste reduction, directly comparable mission and cross-border NL/BE scope.
• Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik (DIL): German food technology institute with 175+ member companies and named FTB partner; provides applied research, pilot facilities and technology commercialization (including PEF technologies that DIL developed and ELEA commercialized), directly comparable as a research-driven food-tech cluster.

Regional players

• InnovationQuarter: Regional development agency for South Holland that invests in and supports innovative companies and ecosystems in food, cleantech and digital; comparable public-private facilitation model connecting startups, corporates and research institutes, primarily a different region.
• Brainport Industries: Regional high-tech manufacturing industry cooperative in the same Brainport region, focusing on mechatronics, robotics and supply-chain collaboration; comparable ecosystem-aggregation model for a different industry vertical, sharing the same Brainport Development umbrella as FTB.

Broad incumbents

• EIT Food: EU-backed pan-European food innovation network (part of EIT/KIC) that funds and operates food innovation programs, accelerators and test facilities across Europe; a much larger incumbent operating at the same intersection of food-tech, sustainability and entrepreneurship.
• Wageningen University & Research (Food & Biobased Research): Dutch agricultural and food science powerhouse and named FTB partner (Wageningen UR); operates large pilot plants, applied research programs and valorization initiatives that compete with and complement FTB's facility-based offering.
• Plug and Play Food & AgTech: Global innovation platform with a dedicated Food & AgTech vertical running accelerator programs, corporate partnerships and pilot programs; operates a community/corporate-led GTM motion analogous to FTB's, but at global scale with venture-capital backing.

Others

• JBT/Avure Technologies: Leading global supplier of HPP processing systems and a named FTB partner with a showcase site at Food Tech Brainport Park; comparable in that it commercializes HPP for shelf-life extension, but it is an equipment vendor rather than an ecosystem orchestrator.
• Rabobank Food & Agri Banking: Cooperative bank with 125+ years of food sector focus and a named FTB supervisory board partner (Rabobank Oost-Brabant); adjacent as a capital and sector-knowledge provider to food-tech startups, not a direct operator but tightly coupled to the same ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/food-tech-brainport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Food Tech Brainport