Nestlé R&D collaborates with EDB to deliver sustainable nutritious food

SINGAPORE – Nestlé Research & Development (R&D) Asia has collaborated with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) to provide sustainable, great-tasting, affordable and nutritious food.

Nestle stated that the collaboration would enable innovation in key areas, such as alternative proteins, including hybrid plant/dairy and plant-based products, sustainable packaging, and digital transformation.

The company will also work with local Singapore enterprises, including start-ups and small and medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), to co-innovate, evaluate and adopt emerging technologies for the next generation of sustainably produced products, ingredients, and manufacturing solutions.

These partnerships will drive relevant and fruitful innovation for Southeast Asia. For example, in 2023, the Nestlé R&D Center in Singapore partnered with a local start-up to develop high protein and fiber noodles from upcycled spent barley grains.

In addition, the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce recognized this partnership with the ‘Most Transformational Collaboration’ Award.

Guglielmo Bonora, Head of Nestlé R&D in Singapore, said: “For over 40 years, our R&D Center in Singapore has played a key role in developing products and technologies for Southeast Asia and globally, for well-known Nestlé brands. Our ongoing partnership with the EDB underscores our commitment to contribute to making Singapore a recognized global hub for innovation and technology.

“Only with a thriving local business ecosystem and a core of competitive talent, can our R&D teams here continue to drive science-based innovations that cater to local and regional consumers’ taste preferences and nutritional needs.”

Melissa Guan, who is the Acting Vice President and Head of Consumer at the Economic Development Board (EDB), stated that over the past four decades, they have observed Nestlé’s growth into one of the largest R&D centers in Singapore.

She noted that Nestlé R&D’s recent investment in building future-oriented capabilities in areas such as innovation, digitalization, and sustainability aligns with Singapore’s Job Transformation Map (JTM) for the Food Manufacturing industry.

She emphasized that this investment highlights Singapore’s ongoing appeal as a regional R&D hub for consumer companies to collaborate with the local ecosystem to create and develop new products and processes.

In 2021, Nestle upgraded its Singapore R&D center to ensure products in the Asian region are tailored to local consumer preferences, taste and nutritional requirements. 

According to a statement from Nestlé, the expansion features state-of-the-art labs, experimental kitchens, consumer testing, sensory evaluations rooms, and open working spaces, in addition to Nestlé’s fundamental research hub. 

The upgraded facilities also included a new regional R&D Accelerator which provides a platform for start-ups, students, and Nestlé employees in the region to develop and test novel concepts in under six months. 

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