The National Innovation Agency (Public Organization), or NIA, together with Kasetsart University, carried out the first-round screening of applicants on the basis of their application forms. Candidates were assessed against a set of baseline qualifications: operating a Thai food-innovation business in one of the programme’s designated categories; having a product or service that already generates revenue; owning food technology developed in-house or backed by research; having a team ready to keep learning and improving; and holding a clear vision for expanding into regional or global markets.
Thirty-one entrepreneurs came through that first-round screening. NIA then ran a growth-skills training session for these FoodTech entrepreneurs, deepening their understanding of food-industry trends, of how to develop both domestic and overseas markets, and of the support mechanisms available through the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP). The session also set out the criteria and process for the next selection round. Guest speaker Khun Wannawat Opaswattana, Director of Policy and Promotion Planning at the SMEs Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP), shared how its funding mechanisms work. The programme also featured specialists on exporting to domestic and international markets and on brand-building as a way to sharpen the competitive edge of food-innovation products: Khun Jirawat Dechasathian, business strategy specialist, and Khun Chatphimuk Jeenaphan, Creative Director of Two Top Group Co., Ltd.
