Ajinomoto Team Ups with KX to Support Startups and Drive the Future of Food and Biotech Innovations

Bangkok – 24 June 2025 - Amid global economic competition, Thailand, known as the “Kitchen of the World,” faces a significant challenge in advancing its food industry toward sustainability. With abundant resources in diverse foods and raw materials, the country holds immense growth potential. By empowering entrepreneurs, especially startups, to develop systematically through technology and innovation, Thailand can transition from being a manufacturer to a global leader in in-depth food innovation, ready to meet future challenges.

Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd. understands the importance of innovation in addressing the evolving needs of the food industry. This year marks an important milestone as the company joins forces in collaboration with KX, or Knowledge Xchange, the innovation hub of King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT). The company has launched the TECHBITE Food & Biotech Accelerator Program, an initiative that aims to identify and support outstanding startups focused on food, biotech, and health solutions. Together, Ajinomoto Thailand and KX are advancing the concept of “Eat Well, Live Well.” while unlocking the full potential of Thailand’s food and biotech industries, strengthening their competitive edge on the global stage.

 Mr. Daizaburo Koga, Managing Director of Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd., stated at the TECHBITE Food & Biotech Demo Day, “In line with Ajinomoto’s mission to support the wellbeing of people, society, and the planet, we are committed to developing innovations rooted in ‘AminoScience,’ Ajinomoto’s core expertise in amino acid research. These innovations drive concrete advances in health, nutrition, and sustainability.

For this initiative, we are focusing on three key areas:

1. Personalized Nutrition — Delivering the right nutrients to the right person at the right time.

2. Alternative Proteins — Developing sustainable, nutritious protein sources.

3. Fermentation Technology — Leveraging advanced biotechnology to create ecofriendly ingredients.

We believe that innovation happens faster and better when collaborating with partners, which is why we embrace an Open Innovation approach, working closely with startups, researchers, and relevant organizations to cocreate realworld solutions, whether for food security, elderly care, or environmental sustainability.

The TECHBITE Food & Biotech Demo Day is just the starting point, not the end of this project. We hope this initiative will lay a strong foundation for the growth of food and health innovations across the region, and Ajinomoto is proud to be part of this transformation,” added Mr. Koga.

Dr. Patrachart Komolkiti, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, KX Knowledge Xchange, said, “We are thrilled and grateful to Ajinomoto, a global leader in the food industry, for becoming the first major partner in the TECHBITE Food & Biotech Accelerator Program. This collaboration will strengthen the competitiveness of the industrial sector and connect innovation across the private sector, government, and startups. Together, we aim to drive future food and biotech innovations, laying a strong foundation for growth and creating an ecosystem that supports Thailand’s economy as it advances toward the New S-Curves in a sustainable way.”

 Mr. Suthiket Thatpitak-Kul, Deputy Secretary-General of Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), added, “The BOI is committed to supporting Thai startups in becoming unicorns through new investment measures that provide 20-50 million baht in funding for high-potential businesses in targeted industries. We also offer tax incentives, Smart Visa services, and LTR Visa options to help create a growth-friendly ecosystem. We believe that startups are the driving force that will elevate Thailand to a value-based economy and position the country as an innovation hub, in line with the BCG and Digital Transformation models.”

In the TECHBITE Food & Biotech Accelerator Program, 10 innovative startups from six countries presented their solutions in food and biotech for health, along with knowledge exchange and creative approaches for the food industry. The participating startups are as follows: Aleph Farms, Prefer, Algal Bio, BiomeMega, Advanced GreenFarm, Aquivio, Another Food, Fattastic, Modgut, and Allium Bio

Leading partners, including the BOI, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, JETRO, and the TED Fund, have come together to showcase Thailand’s food innovations to the world. The Techbite Food & Biotech Accelerator Program ran from December 2024 to June 2025, featuring a range of activities such as capacity-building workshops, expert networking sessions, and exclusive visits to Ajinomoto factories and laboratories to learn about world-class production processes and industry requirements. The program culminated in the highly anticipated Demo Day held recently at the KX – Knowledge Xchange building, which attracted significant attention from investors, startup founders, as well as both private and public sectors.