AsianScientist (Apr. 7, 2016) – Nestlé has announced that it will expand research and innovation activities in Asia with the establishment of the Nestlé Research Center (NRC) Asia in Biopolis, the biomedical research hub of Singapore.
The expansion builds on Nestlé’s strategic innovation partnership with Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and provides a new base for Nestlé Research Centre, with a focus on healthy aging.
Longer life expectancy and a marked decline in fertility rates have resulted in a rapidly aging global population, with significant economic, healthcare and societal repercussions. In particular, by 2050, Asia’s aging population is expected to reach 1.2 billion and account for 60 percent of the world’s population of older people.
Thus, Nestlé has identified a strategic need for a research footprint within Asia to study the role of nutrition and early development in health and disease, so as to better address the needs of the region’s ageing population.
The NRC’s strong focus on healthy aging leverages Singapore’s strong biomedical research capabilities and diverse ethnic population to improve the wellbeing, health and longevity of Asia’s aged. The regional insights on geriatric nutrition could also lead to nutritional interventions across the globe.
The collaboration with A*STAR will also increasingly expand on biotransformation—the use of natural processes, such as fermentation, to transform raw materials into ingredients with nutritional or functional benefits.
“The Nestlé and A*STAR partnership has shown significant results and great potential for both partners. The collaboration and the founding of our Healthy Aging programme also marks the start of a new drive of scientific innovation efforts which support unmet nutritional needs of Asia’s ageing population,” said Dr. Fabrizio Agrigoni, head of NRC Asia and of Nestlé’s Healthy Aging programme.
“We look forward to working closely with Nestlé to meet the needs of Singapore’s and Asia’s aging populations and empower them to live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives,” said Mr. Lim Chuan Poh, chairman of A*STAR.
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Source: A*STAR; Photo: Nestlé.
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