Nestlé launches R&D Accelerator to drive innovation for dairy products and plant-based dairy alternatives
Nestlé today inaugurated a new R&D Accelerator to drive innovation and speed-to-market of sustainable dairy products, as well as plant-based dairy alternatives.
Located at NestlĂ©’s R&D center in Konolfingen, Switzerland, the R&D Accelerator provides a world-class platform for start-ups, students and scientists to leverage NestlĂ©’s unique dairy and plant protein expertise to quickly bring products from ideation to commercialization.
Nestlé R&D Konolfingen is an integral part of the Swiss innovation ecosystem. It is the company’s largest research and development center for dairy products and plant-based dairy alternatives. The R&D center develops new product concepts for Nestlé’s dairy and infant nutrition businesses before they are introduced to consumers around the world.
Speaking at the inauguration, Mark Schneider, Nestlé CEO, said, “Innovation in milk products and plant-based dairy alternatives is core to NestlĂ©’s portfolio strategy, as well as our sustainability agenda. As a company, we have set ambitious climate goals. This is part of our promise to develop products that are good for you and good for the planet.”
The R&D Accelerator in Konolfingen features a fully equipped test kitchen, as well as a co-working office space. Internal, external and mixed teams will leverage NestlĂ©’s capabilities to bring novel ideas from concept to test shop in only six months. They will have access to NestlĂ© expertise and key equipment such as small to medium scale production equipment to facilitate the rapid upscaling of products for a test launch in a retail environment.
Thomas Hauser, Head of Global Product and Technology Development at NestlĂ© said, “Our goal is to provide start-ups, students and NestlĂ© scientists with key resources to quickly explore new ideas through a 6-month test and learn approach. By tapping into our expertise in food science, food safety, regulatory, manufacturing processes, and packaging, they can rapidly upscale and test new products in real market conditions.”
The R&D Accelerator in Konolfingen is part of NestlĂ©’s global R&D Accelerator initiative which was first launched at NestlĂ© Research in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Read the full press release in French and German
View related images on Flickr
Media contact:
Melanie Kohli, R&D Communications
Tel.: +41 21 785 9515
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