Bühler, Icos summit highlights path to scale for food and biotech firms
Industry leaders and investors call for closer work to help new solutions reach the market faster.
SWITZERLAND – Bühler and Icos Capital brought together investors, industry leaders, and scale-ups at the CUBIC Innovation Campus to address how to move new food and biotech solutions into production more quickly.
The two-day Collaborative Summit on April 1 and 2 gathered 35 scale-ups and 40 partners from across the sector. Participants agreed that closer cooperation and shared insight matter more than ever as companies face market pressure and funding limits.
Nityen Lal, founding partner at Icos Capital, said the summit focused on key issues that affect growth. “This year, we focused on four key aspects: raising capital in challenging markets, tackling scaling, using artificial intelligence in biotech, and planning growth to exit,” he said.
Ian Roberts, chief technology officer at Bühler, stressed the role of large companies in helping smaller firms grow. “With strong supply chains and market reach, corporates can play a key role in a scale-up’s path and help them grow faster,” he said.
Speakers said companies must think beyond technology. Roger Ottenheym, CEO of Mevaldi, warned that some firms fail to define their customers. “Too many companies focus on the technology itself without clearly defining who the customer is,” he said.
Shifts shaping food systems
The discussions pointed to major changes in the food sector, including the rise of GLP-1 treatments, the needs of older consumers, and concern about ultra-processed foods.
Roberts said these trends are changing how companies design products. “These shifts are changing how we think about food and open space for solutions that balance health, cost, and sustainability,” he said.
Participants also raised the need to build stronger food systems that support farmers and create fair value chains.
Scaling remains a key challenge, especially in biotech, where long development times and high costs slow progress. Jeroen van Rotterdam, CEO of Foamlab, said companies must stay flexible. “Biotech takes time, so it is important to move fast where possible and work closely with partners,” he said.
The summit builds on earlier efforts. In 2024, Icos and Bühler brought together more than 30 start-ups and major partners to support growth in areas such as fermentation and bio-based chemicals. Companies like MoA FoodTech and Abolis used the platform to form partnerships with industry players.
Jonathan Rason of FrieslandCampina Ingredients said startups remain key to progress. “Startups bring energy and help us move faster as we look for new solutions,” he said.
Both Icos and Bühler said they will continue to support companies ready to scale and bring solutions to market.
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