30 July 2021
Nieuws
0 reacties
35x viewed
A megamagnetron that produces healthy food. Grass seeds coated with raw materials. An automatic stem thickness gauge for avenue and fruit trees. A biodegradable stick that replaces the old-fashioned tea bag. The start-up program BL.INC at Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo has already delivered many great innovations after two rounds. In September 2021 the 3rd round of BL.INC will start.
BL.INC supports innovative agrifood entrepreneurs in setting up and expanding their business. For three months participants will have access to a network of experienced entrepreneurs and experts, R&D facilities, a workplace and tailored advice and coaching from experienced professionals. Partners Rabobank, the North Limburg region and LIOF explain why they fully support this start-up program. Will there be enough food in 2050 for the more than nine billion people in the world? How can entrepreneurs in the food chain double food production in a sustainable way? Rabobank wants to contribute to this challenge. Through their participation in BL.INC, the six regional Rabobanks in Limburg want to encourage and support innovations and new ideas in the field of agro food. Alphons Kurstjens is executive chairman of Rabobank Zuid-Limburg Oost. "It is important that ideas come from the head, the living room or garage and startups with good plans get in touch with the outside world. Through BL.INC startups and scale-ups can give their ideas direction, test the feasibility and accelerate their innovation. Through this program you can easily make contacts and - if necessary - make timely adjustments. This is how you go from idea to business and from business to profitable enterprise." M Rabobank is a market leader in the agri and food business and has a lot of expertise, a large network and financial instruments that the participants of BL.INC can use to their advantage. Alphons: "As a bank we want to contribute to the (more) sustainable feeding of the world (banking for food). Through BL.INC we support innovative agri-food entrepreneurs with a good idea in the field of healthy and safe food, future farming or biocircular economy. To this end, we also deploy our Business Innovation Team Limburg (BITL) that helps starting entrepreneurs with, for example, mapping the network or finding the right funding." For the collaborating municipalities in North Limburg, stimulating the regional economy is important: sufficient employment and a good business climate ensure that residents enjoy living, working and doing business in the region. By participating in BL.INC, among other things, the municipalities are working together on this. Marcel Claus represents the municipalities in the program and he sees BL.INC as a springboard for companies to new opportunities. "The participants learn with and from each other, expand their business and work on their network, both inside and outside the campus. This allows them to further develop as a company, during and after their participation in BL.INC." The program is not only important for the participants. It also provides a lot for the municipalities - in addition to employment. "As a region we would like to be at the forefront when it comes to smart innovations in the field of sustainability, healthy food, reuse of residual streams etc. The BL.INC participants all contribute to this. Take My Pro, this startup wants to produce high quality proteins from residual streams from the food and agriculture sectors. With their innovation they contribute to a more sustainable and circular society. BL.INC not only puts the participating companies on the map, but also the region." It is LIOF's task to strengthen the economic structure of Limburg and the companies active within it. Bert de Wit is manager of Business Development at LIOF. "Innovation and continuous development of the business community is important. This is how you keep developing as a company and respond to technology and market developments. Innovation comes mainly from startups, spinouts and spinoffs. That's why we as LIOF participate in programs such as BL.INC: it contributes to strengthening the Limburg economy and is good for the companies in the region. Through BL.INC we also come into contact with companies we don't yet know. If we can support them in their further development and growth, that is a bonus.
LIOF's contribution to BL.INC consists of advice, network and funding. Bert: "Together with the participants we look at how they can build a promising business from the content. For financing we use both grants and risk financing from our own instruments and funds and from the provincial, national and European instruments." Are you, or do you know you, an ambitious startup active in healthy and safe food, innovative agriculture or biocircular economy? Are you ready to validate your business and take the next step? Then apply now for the new round of startup accelerator BL.INC, starting in September (live). Want to know more? Then contact Joar Nilssen at joar.nilssen@brightlands.com Source: BrightlandsRabobank: banking for food
Region of Northern Limburg: a springboard!
LIOF: strengthening the economy of Limburg
.
An important plus of this program, according to Bert, is the interaction between the participants. "Because you go through the program with a number of startups, you learn from each other and you can also work together in parts. That's why we encourage (young) entrepreneurs to participate in BL.INC: find the interaction and cooperation, go through the learning curve faster so you can improve your business."Start 3rd round BL.INC in September
.