Eagle Genomics Arrives at Gateway to Asia with Prestigious Singapore-based Global Incubator Program
- Accelerates company’s in-market expansion plans and presence in Asia
- Provides expert support from Innovate UK and Singapore-based, VC AgFunder-backed GROW ecosystem catalyst, with access to mentor and partner networks
Cambridge, UK – 21 October 2021 – Eagle Genomics, a pioneer in applying network science to biology, today announced that it has been selected to participate in the inaugural Singaporean cohort of the UK Government’s Global Incubator Program – Gateway to Asia, an internationalization assistance and accelerator program for UK-based agrifoodtech companies.
Supported by GROW, Innovate UK and Innovate UK EDGE, Gateway to Asia helps innovative British SMEs explore the potential of overseas markets. The program leverages the growth in demand for more sustainable food systems across Asia, driven by changing consumer preferences, income growth, digitalization, and an increased focus on climate and pandemic-resilient supply chains.
The six-month program will provide Eagle Genomics with the opportunity to engage with the Asian market as part of its ongoing global scale up, alongside seven other UK agrifoodtech companies.
The opportunity has emerged as the company and its e[datascientist]TM AI-augmented discovery platform continues to evolve as the burgeoning global life sciences knowledge discovery hub, innovating at the intersection of biology and data sciences and harnessing of agrifood-related data such as data from the soil and gut microbiomes. By supporting scientists, from hypothesis through insight to product claims, the platform can help contribute to the development and production of healthier, more nutritious and sustainable food, as well as novel approaches to agriculture.
Anthony Finbow, CEO, Eagle Genomics, commented: “We’re delighted to have been selected to participate in the Global Incubator Program – Gateway to Asia. Eagle Genomics is supporting the transition to a sustainable future for our food, water, soil, and human health – helping to tackle the world’s Grand Challenges while unlocking significant economic potential. We believe that the e[datascientist] platform provides an important way by which the industry will be able to meet evolving future needs and challenges. We are excited to have the opportunity to benefit from access to Singapore’s rapidly expanding agrifoodtech ecosystem – as part of our plans in Singapore and Asia more broadly.”
David Golding, Head of Global Innovation Partnerships, Innovate UK, said: “Innovate UK is delighted to be working with GROW on this exciting initiative which represents the latest expansion of our Global Incubator Program into Singapore and the broader Asia region. We see big opportunities for innovation collaboration with Singapore in the area of agrifoodtech and will be looking to build future collaborations with our Singapore partners in the future.”
Her Excellency Kara Owen CMG CVO, British High Commissioner to Singapore, said: “Today, Innovate UK and GROW launch their first agrifoodtech-focused accelerator program bridging the UK and Singapore. Congratulations to the eight companies who have successfully made it through the application process and are now on the verge of embarking on a new journey in Asia. You are thriving examples of the Singapore-UK partnership for the future. If there is a key lesson learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is how much stronger we become when we work together. The current global supply chain disruption showed us the necessity of being able to adapt and to build resilience. Our bilateral innovation relationship will not only bring technology in the agrifood sector to the fore, but will also address humankind’s urgent needs on food security and sustainability, just as Singapore’s ‘30 by 30’ plan and the UK’s new national Innovation Strategy intend. I am looking forward to how the team’s ambitions will be realized over the next six months.”
Dr Neerupma Bhardwaj, Senior Scientist, Eagle Genomics, said: “We are excited to be introduced to, and engaged with such a forward-thinking community dedicated to innovation as the Gateway offers, while building awareness of the role of microbiome in the development and production of future foods. Eagle Genomics' e[datascientist] platform, for example, can be used to develop innovations that could help drive sustainable food production, the development of high-quality proteins and novel ingredients, and ultimately, healthier diets. We look forward to exploring these ideas in the Singaporean context.”