Nestlé Research & Development (R&D) will strengthen local capabilities in Singapore with the support of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) to deliver great-tasting, affordable and nutritious food that is also sustainable. This will enable the company to drive innovation in key areas such as alternative proteins, including hybrid plant/dairy and plant-based products, sustainable packaging and digital transformation.
With the continued support of the EDB and other Singapore government agencies, Nestlé R&D 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 and ingredients as well as manufacturing solutions. These partnerships are key to driving relevant and fruitful innovation for the wider Southeast Asia region. For example, the Nestlé R&D Center in Singapore partnered with a local start-up to develop high protein and fiber noodles made from upcycled spent barley grains. This partnership was recognized with the ‘Most Transformational Collaboration’ Award by the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce in 2023.
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.”
Nestlé first established its R&D Center in Singapore in 1980. The facility, which also includes the Nestlé Quality Assurance Centre (NQAC), now employs more than 200 people. Over the years, the Singapore R&D Center has contributed significantly to the innovation of many products across major brands for consumers in the region. For example, Nestlé experts recently developed a breakthrough sugar reduction technology that was rolled out for Milo beverages in Southeast Asia and beyond. The Center has also developed new coffee experiences for both hot and cold use, as well as ice cream innovations that were launched both locally and globally for global brands like Nescafé, Starbucks, Blue Bottle Coffee, KitKat and Milo.
Melissa Guan, Acting Vice President & Head, Consumer, EDB, said: “We have witnessed Nestlé’s growth over the past four decades to become one of the largest R&D centers in Singapore. Nestlé R&D’s latest investment to build new future-forward capabilities in their workforce in areas such as innovation, digitalization and sustainability are aligned with Singapore’s Job Transformation Map (JTM) for the Food Manufacturing industry. Nestlé’s investment underscores Singapore’s continued attractiveness as a regional R&D hub for consumer companies to partner with our local ecosystem to co-create and co-develop new products and processes.”
