The Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at the National University of Singapore and EnterpriseSG launch startup competition to accelerate sustainable protein innovation

The Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at the National University of Singapore (Bezos Centre @NUS) and Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) have launched a new startup competition aimed at boosting early-stage innovation in sustainable protein. Announced at the inaugural International Summit on Sustainable Protein (ISSP), the initiative forms part of the Bezos Centre @NUS’ broader five-year, US$3 million commitment to accelerate the commercialization of novel food solutions.

Officially launching on 1 August, the Sustainable Protein Startup Competition will provide funding and support of up to S$175,000 (approximately US$129,000) to each of three winning startups selected through a competitive pitching process. The program is open to local and global early-stage ventures developing solutions across fermentation, cell-cultivated meat, plant-based proteins, and food safety and toxicology.

“There is no shortage of world-class research in sustainable protein,” said Professor Zhou Weibiao, Acting Director of the Bezos Centre @NUS and Head of the NUS Department of Food Science and Technology. “One of our goals at the Bezos Centre is to bridge that research with real-world impact. This startup competition and the ISSP are natural extensions of that mission – paving the way for promising technologies to move from lab to market, and from local to global impact. Our partnership with EnterpriseSG will further support our aspiration by accelerating innovation and strengthening the sustainable protein ecosystem in Singapore and beyond.”

Startups selected to participate will be assessed on their technological innovation, market readiness, business model scalability, and team capabilities. From all applications, eight finalists will be shortlisted to pitch at the Singapore International Agri-Food Week in November 2025. Three winners will receive S$75,000 in cash from the Bezos Centre, with EnterpriseSG matching this through its Startup SG Founder (Competition) grant. In addition, each winner will receive in-kind support worth up to S$25,000 from the Bezos Centre @NUS, including mentorship, laboratory and office access, incubation resources, and the chance to pitch at an annual startup event.

Applications for the 2025 competition open on 1 August and close on 8 September. Full details are available here.

Jeannie Lim, Assistant Managing Director for Services and Growth Enterprises at EnterpriseSG, emphasized the importance of targeted support at this stage of innovation. “Our partnership with the Bezos Centre @NUS comes at a crucial time to support promising food-tech startups in securing funding to develop their technologies and bring innovative solutions to market,” she said. “This initiative reflects our commitment to advance promising sustainable food innovations while catalyzing greater private sector participation and investments in Singapore's foodtech sector. We welcome food-tech startups to leverage Singapore’s resources, robust innovation ecosystem and progressive regulatory framework to accelerate their R&D efforts and scale their impact across the region.”

The startup competition is part of a two-pronged approach by the Bezos Centre @NUS to advance sustainable protein innovation. In addition to supporting early-stage ventures, the Centre has allocated up to US$1.5 million from its five-year fund to back growth-stage companies and high-potential projects. These grants, up to US$500,000 each, are intended to help companies scale production, expand market reach, and drive international growth. EnterpriseSG will also collaborate on this effort via its Startup SG Tech Grant matching scheme. Further details on this second track are expected in November.

The Bezos Centre @NUS was established to position Singapore as a global hub for sustainable protein research and innovation. This latest competition reinforces its commitment to translating scientific breakthroughs into scalable solutions capable of addressing global food security and climate challenges.