Israeli startup Jet Eat, which is developing plant-based beef-like steaks using proprietary 3D printing technology, was recently selected as the winner of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology 2018 Food Accelerator Network Program (EIT FAN).

Jet Eat was chosen from dozens of successful food technology startups that participated in the initiative and was one of three final winners that received a $68,000 zero-equity prize.

All of the startups in the EIT FAN were deemed as being poised to change the world’s food system. The Technion, Swiss Federal Polytechnic School ETH Zurich and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) were chosen to run the program.

At the Technion, 10 startups took part in the four month accelerator, led by Professors Ester Segal and Uri Lesmes of the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering. They received mentoring by leading academics at the university as well as food industry professionals from the Strauss Company.

Jet-Eat is the first company in the world to develop 3D printing technology specifically to address major problems facing the food industry. Established in 2018 by Eshchar Ben-Shitrit, Jet-Eat aims to help reduce food waste, contribute to a more sustainable food production system, and provide vegan, vegetarians and flexitarians with healthy, natural and sustainable alternatives to meat, without comprising their culinary experience.

“We are thrilled to be selected from this impressive group of startups. Not only that the award money will help us take a major step accelerating our development, but the validation from major players in the food industry gives us back-wind in our efforts to build a new food printing ecosystem. The contribution of the EIT FAN program in general, and specifically our collaboration with the Technion, was dramatic to our efforts in the past four months. We see this collaboration as a long term relationship combining Jet-Eat, the Technion and EIT,” said Jet-Eat founder Eshchar Ben-Shitrit.

According to Ben-Shitrit, the cattle beef industry is a major cause of adverse environmental impact, and represents massive economical potential for disruption. Incorporating 3D printing technology into the quest to find alternative to meat, and especially beef, has the potential to fundamentally change this reality and help build a more sustainable future, while opening new opportunities in high-end plant-based meat.

Benoit Buntinx, Director of Business Creation for EIT Food, said: “Many congratulations to our winners from our EIT Food Accelerator Network Program. These start-ups aim to help tackle global food challenges and address the gap between innovation and the realization of genuine business opportunities.”

For more than a century, the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology has pioneered in science and technology education and delivered world-changing impact. Proudly a global university, the Technion has long leveraged boundary-crossing collaborations to advance breakthrough research and technologies. Now with a presence in three countries, the Technion will prepare the next generation of global innovators. Technion people, ideas and inventions make immeasurable contributions to the world, innovating in fields from cancer research and sustainable energy to quantum computing and computer science to do good around the world.

The American Technion Society supports visionary education and world-changing impact through the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. Based in New York City, we represent thousands of US donors, alumni and stakeholders who invest in the Technion’s growth and innovation to advance critical research and technologies that serve the State of Israel and the global good. Over more than 75 years, our nationwide supporter network has funded new Technion scholarships, research, labs, and facilities that have helped deliver world-changing contributions and extend Technion education to campuses in three countries.