FRANCE – Danone, a French multinational dairy corporation, recently launched its new International Daniel Carasso Research and Innovation Center in the Paris-Saclay international science hub.
The inauguration ceremony was led by Antoine de Saint-Affrique, Chief Executive Officer in the presence of the current Prime Minister of France, Elisabeth Borne as well as the ministers of Industry, Agriculture and Research.
The centre will serve as a space for Danone to “develop products of the future within its ecosystem” which is in line with the company’s mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible.
By the use of science and research, Danone aims to address the challenges they face in the mission to provide healthy, nutritious and sustainable foods to the world while combating the climate crisis, according to the CEO.
It will specifically be dedicated to the development and innovation of Danone’s fresh dairy and plant-based products and natural mineral water categories.
The research centre building, consisting of five levels, will be strategically located at the heart of a scientific ecosystem in Paris-Saclay and connected to all other Danone research hubs across the globe.
The site has been constructed to cater for the company’s sustainability mission as it features wooden frames, photovoltaic panels, geothermal heating and cooling, and a water recovery system.
It will employ approximately 500 people who will work in partnership with universities and strategic suppliers for innovation and limited production of specific prototypes.
The construction of this research site was initially announced in 2021 with the goal of supporting the transformation of the food research business and accelerating innovation.
At the inauguration, Danone also announced the unveiling of the design of a new product, HiPRO Expert yoghurt, an exclusive development for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Danone is a partner of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympic Games and aims to contribute its expertise in nutrition in sports, through its dairy and plant-based products.
The HiPRO Expert yoghurt recipe was developed by researchers in collaboration with athletes.
Antoine de Saint Affrique said, “Driven by this pioneering spirit, our ‘Renew Danone’ strategic plan puts science and technology back at the centre of innovation, making them key growth drivers for the company.
Better serving increasingly diverse consumers and patients and doing so in a more sustainable and innovative way, is a conundrum where we need science and research more than ever to find solutions.”
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