SINGAPORE, 10 MARCH 2025 – Nestlé Research & Development (R&D) will strengthen local capabilities in key innovation areas with the support of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). 

In the face of global food insecurity and environmental challenges, Nestlé is focused on delivering great-tasting, affordable, and nutritious food that is also sustainable. To strengthen its capabilities at the R&D Center in Singapore, Nestlé will commit resources to support various roles ranging from chefs to engineers and product developers. 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 EDB and other government agencies, Nestlé R&D will also work with local 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 region. For example, the Nestlé R&D Center in Singapore partnered with KosmodeHealth, a local start-u,p to develop high protein and fibre noodles made from upcycled spent barley grains. This partnership was recognised with the “Most Transformational Collaboration” Award by the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce in 2023. 

Guglielmo Bonora, Head of Nestlé R&D 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 recognised global hub for innovation and technology. Only with a thriving local business ecosystem and a core of competitive talent, can our R&D teams 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.

Rajat Kumar Jain, Managing Director, Nestlé Singapore, shared, “Situated in the heart of Southeast Asia, Singapore is well positioned to tap into the region’s rich culinary heritage and novel food trends to create innovative products in Asia, for Asia and beyond. The R&D Center complements our decades old presence in Singapore, enabling us to rapidly develop, test and roll out game-changing products, driving sustainable growth of our business in Singapore and beyond.” 

“We have witnessed Nestlé’s growth over the past four decades to become one of the largest R&D centres in Singapore. Nestlé R&D’s latest investment to build new future-forward capabilities in their workforce in areas such as innovation, digitalisation and sustainability are aligned with Singapore’s Job Transformation Map (JTM) for the Food Manufacturing industry. Nestlé’s investment underscores Singapore’s 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,” said Melissa Guan, Acting Vice President & Head, Consumer, EDB. 

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. [Refer to Annex A for profile of staff who had worked on product innovations for MILO] 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. 

About Nestlé Singapore 

As the world’s largest food and beverage manufacturer, Nestlé is the provider of the best food for whatever time of day and for whatever time of your life. Headquartered in Switzerland, Nestlé is present in more than 180 countries around the world and employs more than 270,000 people, who are committed to unlocking the power of food to enhance the quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come. Since 1912, Nestlé Singapore has been nourishing Singaporeans through quality brands and products like MILO®, MAGGI®, NESCAFÉ®, and KITKAT®, delivering on our promise of bringing Good Food, Good Life to all. In 2024, Nestlé Singapore was recognised as a Company of Good (3 Hearts) by the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre for its outstanding contributions and commitment to corporate purpose and impact in Singapore. To find out more about Nestlé Singapore, visit https://www.nestle.com.sg/aboutus. 

About Nestlé R&D in Singapore 

Singapore is the home of Nestlé’s regional R&D Center for Southeast Asia. Since opening in 1980, the Center has played a key role in driving innovation at Nestlé across key products and brands. Today, innovation at the R&D Center is cross-category, featuring different fields of expertise, including coffee mixes, powdered milks, and beverages such as MILO, ready-to-drink beverages, ice cream, plant-based meat alternatives and cooking sauces. The Center is a key part of the Nestlé global R&D network which has over 4,000 employees working across 23 R&D Centers globally. The company invests CHF 1.7 billion annually as an engine for growth. To find out more about Nestlé R&D organisation, visit https://www.nestle.com/about/research-development/organization.