Saudi Arabia Welcomes IXON in Push for FoodTech Innovation

In a significant move to boost food technology innovation in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Energy, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) recently hosted Hong Kong-based startup IXON as part of its newly launched Sunbolah program. The three-day visit, from September 1-3, marks a pivotal step in the Kingdom's efforts to foster cutting-edge solutions in the food sector.

IXON, known for its revolutionary advanced sous-vide aseptic packaging (ASAP) technology, engaged in high-level meetings with leading Saudi food companies and venture capital firms. Notable among these were Nadec, Saudi's premier dairy producer recently venturing into meat products; Jahez Group, the country's leading food delivery platform; and SALIC, a state-owned strategic investment fund focused on agriculture and food production technology.

At a welcoming event held at MEWA's Entrepreneurship Office on September 2, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Malik Al-Malik, Deputy Minister for Research & Innovation, outlined the ministry's vision for food technology innovation in the Kingdom.

"Our strategic plan for research and innovation has a sectoral approach," Dr. Al-Malik explained. "We're creating an ecosystem from scratch, intervening to fix problems and fill gaps where necessary. IXON is exactly the type of innovative company we want to bring to the region."

Dr. Al-Malik elaborated on MEWA's comprehensive approach to fostering innovation across different sectors. He explained that the Sunbolah program, launched by MEWA, is specifically aimed at fostering innovations and entrepreneurship in the food and agricultural sectors in Saudi Arabia. It's one of three main programs the ministry has initiated. The other two are Sedrah, which focuses on the environment sector, and Sahabah, which addresses the water sector.

Through these programs, MEWA ensures alignment with national Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) policies and strategies. These RDI initiatives are crucial for advancing technology sectors and enhancing national sustainability and security.

Dr. Al-Malik highlighted the ministry's commitment to supporting innovations, stating, "We're working on removing artificial barriers, such as outdated regulations, through our regulatory sandbox program. This will help companies like IXON navigate local food safety approvals more efficiently."

In response, Felix Cheung, founder and CEO of IXON, expressed his gratitude for the visit. "We're thankful to the minister for showcasing the tremendous opportunities and government support available in Saudi Arabia," Cheung said. He emphasized how IXON's ASAP technology could significantly improve the living standards of Saudi people by enhancing the accessibility of meat and seafood, particularly in areas lacking cold chain infrastructure.

Cheung also highlighted specific scenarios where ASAP technology could bring unique benefits to Saudi Arabia. "During major pilgrimages in Mecca, where millions of people gather for days, food logistics and safety maintenance can be extremely challenging," he explained. "With ASAP technology, millions of meals can be prepared in advance, stored at ambient temperature, and distributed after light warming, without compromising food safety."

為推動沙特阿拉伯食品科技創新，能源、水務及農業部（MEWA）最近邀請了香港初創企業IXON參與其新推出的Sunbolah計劃。這次為期三日的訪問（9月1日至3日）標誌著該國在食品領域推動尖端解決方案的重要一步。

IXON以其革命性的先進真空低溫烹調無菌包裝（ASAP）技術聞名，期間與沙特領先的食品公司和風險投資公司進行了高層會議。當中包括最近涉足肉類產品的沙特主要乳製品生產商Nadec、該國領先的食品配送平台Jahez Group，以及專注於農業和食品生產技術的國有戰略投資基金SALIC。

9月2日，在MEWA創業辦公室舉行的歡迎活動上，研究與創新副部長Abdulaziz bin Malik Al-Malik博士概述了該部對王國食品科技創新的願景。

「我們的研究和創新戰略計劃採用了行業性方法，」Al-Malik博士解釋道。「我們正在從零開始建立一個生態系統，介入解決問題並填補必要的空白。IXON正是我們想帶到該地區的創新型公司。」

Al-Malik博士詳細闡述了MEWA在不同領域推動創新的全面方法。他解釋說，由MEWA推出的Sunbolah計劃專門旨在促進沙特阿拉伯食品和農業領域的創新和創業。這是該部推出的三個主要計劃之一。另外兩個是專注於環境領域的Sedrah計劃和針對水務領域的Sahabah計劃。

通過這些計劃，MEWA確保與國家研究、開發和創新（RDI）政策和戰略保持一致。這些RDI計劃對推進技術領域和加強國家可持續性和安全至關重要。

Al-Malik博士強調了該部支持創新的承諾，表示：「我們正在通過監管沙盒計劃，努力消除人為障礙，例如過時的法規。這將幫助像IXON這樣的公司更有效地通過本地食品安全審批。」

對此，IXON創始人兼執行董事張文浩表示感謝。「我們感謝部長展示了沙特阿拉伯提供的巨大機遇和政府支持，」張文浩說。他強調IXON的ASAP技術如何能顯著改善沙特人民的生活水平，特別是在缺乏冷鏈基礎設施的地區，提高肉類和海鮮的可及性。

張文浩還強調了ASAP技術可為沙特阿拉伯帶來獨特益處的具體場景。「在麥加的主要朝聖活動期間，數百萬人聚集數天，食品物流和安全維護可能極具挑戰性，」他解釋道。「通過ASAP技術，數百萬份餐食可以提前準備，在常溫下儲存，並在輕微加熱後分發，而不會影響食品安全。」