Nestlé’s largest R+D Accelerator officially launched in Lausanne
Agri-food
7 September 2021
Providing a unique platform for start-ups and students, Nestlé has officially inaugurated its largest R&D Accelerator, which is located at the company’s fundamental research center in Lausanne.
A part of Nestlé’s global R+D Accelerator network which was launched in 2019, Nestlé’s newest and largest R&D accelerator provides a unique platform for start-ups, students and Nestlé intrapreneurs to bring innovations to the market fast.
The internal and external teams have full access to Nestlé’s state-of-the-art infrastructure and unmatched science, technology and business expertise. By using early trends, differentiating technologies and scientific discoveries as sources of inspiration, the teams will be able to develop innovative product solutions in a six-month immersive “idea-to-shop” program.
“We give internal and external entrepreneurs full access to all the expertise and infrastructure they need to translate their idea into a product – from analytical labs, experimental kitchens, to prototyping and production facilities – and we help them test their innovations in real-market conditions,” explains Tom Wagner, Head of the Nestlé R+D Accelerator program.
At the heart of the Swiss Food and Nutrition Valley
The newly inaugurated site that is embedded at Nestlé’s research facilities in Lausanne (canton of Vaud) accelerates the translation of fundamental science into cross-category innovations.
Strategically located at the heart of the Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley, it is the industry’s largest accelerator, covering a 4,000 square meters surface with a variety of co-working stations, prototyping kitchens and mini-production facilities. It can host up to 10 teams simultaneously.
Today, Nestlé’s global R+D Accelerator network consists of 12 sites in 8 different countries. Each accelerator is located at a Nestlé R&D site and focuses on a specific product category or region. Since 2019, 165 participants have participated in the R&D Accelerator program and almost 80 products have been tested in 18 countries.
