Nestlé has estimated that the unit will be ready for operations by end of 2019 and stated that the first research teams have been chosen by the company.
Nestlé, the Swiss transnational food and drink company recently made it to the headlines for launching a new research and development accelerator program as the firm intends to fast-track the development of innovative products and systems.
According to reports, select scientists, students and startups will be permitted the use of dedicated ‘hot desks’ at the Nestlé R&D Accelerator, and will be provided access to Nestlé’s R&D expertise and infrastructure such as shared labs and kitchen besides bench-scale and pilot-scale equipment.
Nestlé has estimated that the unit will be ready for operations by end of 2019 and stated that the first research teams have been chosen by the company.
According to sources, Nestlé R&D Accelerator is located in Lausanne, Switzerland, and is a part of Nestlé’s global R&D network. The same facility also houses the firm’s dedicated research unit, Nestle Research, which was found in 2018.
Stefan Palzer, CTO of Nestlé S.A. was reported to say that they have taken various steps for accelerating innovation that include the company’s enhanced prototyping abilities as well as funding of fast-track projects. With the R&D Accelerator and its nearness to the company’s R&D and business teams, Nestlé hoes to take open innovation to a new level, he added.
Palzer also stated that combining their internal expertise along with the sound knowledge of their academic and industrial associates with external entrepreneurial creativity is an approach that is expected to build an innovative powerhouse. He further added that it is anticipated to speed up conversion of innovative ideas and concepts into tangible prototypes and products.
For the record, Nestlé Research’s launch in 2018 was targeted to address varying consumer habits by finding methods to improve nutritional profiles of the company’s products. As per authentic sources, this was decided following demands from leaders of the company to improve its focus on nutrition and health.
Furthermore, to improve its research operations, Nestlé has inaugurated a new R&D facility in Shenzhen, China in March 2019 which will develop new food and beverage products for its Asian consumers as well as investigate system technologies that are relevant for the company’s international beverage business.
