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Opportunities

CSIRO: Thailand-Australia Venture Exchange Program for sustainable agrifood systems development is open

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Opportunity for

  • Australian and Thai agrifood startups and SMEs interested in participating in a 12-week venture exchange program that provides coaching, mentoring, market immersion experiences, and access to industry, research and commercial networks across Australia and Thailand. 

Opportunity description

Industry challenge

As global demand for sustainable food production grows, innovators face challenges in scaling new technologies, developing novel food and feed products, improving nutrition outcomes, strengthening supply chains, and building market acceptance for future food solutions. Greater collaboration between researchers, industry and entrepreneurs is needed to unlock opportunities across the agrifood value chain and support sustainable agrifood systems development. 

Current opportunity

Applications are now open for the Thailand-Australia Venture Exchange Program (VEP), a 12-week bilateral program designed to connect Australian and Thai agrifood businesses with new research, industry and market opportunities. The program supports participants through intensive coaching, mentoring, market familiarisation activities and in-country immersion experiences, helping organisations strengthen their market readiness and explore opportunities for international growth and collaboration. 

Applications for Round 1 Sustainable Agrifood Systems Development close on Friday 31 July 2026 at 11:30pm AEST. 

Fast Facts

  • Program duration: 12 weeks
  • Focus area: sustainable agrifood systems development
  • Participants: Australian and Thai agrifood startups and SMEs
  • Delivery model: Hybrid program combining online learning and in-person immersion experiences
  • Includes two market immersion experiences, one in the participant's home country and one in the target market
  • Three program rounds will be delivered across 2026 and 2027

Through coaching, mentoring and market engagement, the Thailand-Australia Venture Exchange Program will:

  • Support participants to explore reciprocal market opportunities between Australia and Thailand.
  • Help teams develop effective go-to-market strategies for international expansion.
  • Facilitate engagement across the agrifood value chain to identify synergies and build strategic partnerships.
  • Connect participants with research, industry and commercialisation opportunities in both countries.
  • Provide coaching to identify potential research collaborations and value chain opportunities.
  • Enable access to premium industry events and networking opportunities with ecosystem leaders and cohort participants. 

Challenge areas

Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how their solution addresses one or more of the following themes:

  • Functional and novel food, feed and ingredient development.
  • Improved affordability, scalability and consumer appeal of nutrient-rich foods.
  • Creating value from local produce and knowledge while supporting local communities.
  • Building consumer trust and acceptance of future food products.
  • Aquaculture innovation and sustainable feed solutions.
  • Other technologies or innovations that support sustainable agrifood systems development. 

Eligible Australian and Thai organisations actively developing solutions aligned with sustainable agrifood systems development are encouraged to apply. 

Opportunity background

The program is sponsored through the Australian Government's Southeast Asia and Australia Government Partnerships initiative and is delivered by CSIRO in partnership with Thailand's National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and the Research University Network (RUN) Thailand.

Applications close 31 July 2026. For eligibility requirements, program guidelines and application information, go to "visit website" above. Australian applicants can enquiry directly through the enquiry form below.

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