VEVEY, SWITZERLAND — Nestlé announced the strengthening of its R&D expertise in biotechnology and the creation of a new center for deep tech to boost its innovation pipeline and increase efficiency in research, innovation and operations for human food and pet food. According to the company, the investments will be unlocked by a leaner R&D organization, more agile ways of working, a focused project portfolio and the redeployment of existing R&D-related resources.
“These new capabilities in bio tech and deep tech will fuel growth by meeting changing consumer needs and accelerating the digital transformation of Nestlé,” said Laurent Friexe, chief executive officer of Nestlé. “This is about putting the Nestlé Virtuous Circle in action: unlocking investment through efficiencies to drive more focused and impactful innovation and growth.”
Enhanced R&D expertise in biotechnology and clinical research will lead to new nutritional solutions across the company, including its pet care business. New capabilities include the development of evolved screening assays, enhanced capabilities in precision fermentation and a re-enforced clinical research program. According to Nestlé, these capabilities will drive significant advances in precision nutrition and the development of new generations of highly effective bio-actives and biotics including post- and synbiotics.
The new center for deep tech will be a “first-of-its-kind” in the food and nutrition industry, according to the company. Building on Nestlé’s existing expertise, the new center will screen, test and develop new generations of sensors, robots, coding systems, artificial intelligence and virtual/mixed reality solutions to increase efficiency in research, innovation and operations. These new technologies will enable the development of innovative solutions for precision nutrition, self-controlling equipment and new solutions for dynamic quality assurance. The center will officially open in the first half of 2026 and will be located at the existing facilities of the Nestlé System Technology Center in Orbe, Switzerland.
“We continue to transform our R&D organization to embrace science and technology trends, and to seize current and future growth opportunities,” said Stefan Palzer, chief technical officer of Nestlé. “The industry-leading biotechnology capabilities will deliver new ingredients with clinically proven bio-efficacy for precision nutrition for people and pets along their entire lifespan. The upscaling of our unique capabilities in deep tech are key to maximizing efficiency in innovation and operations. And all of this is powered by a leaner and more agile R&D organization.”
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