SINGAPORE – At the opening occasion, visitors are served prebiotic-fortified teh-o and chocolate chip cookies, and are proven shows of rose-coloured protein water and protein-fortified milk.
It is, in spite of everything, the launch of a brand new laboratory designed to convey confectioners and food producers to Singapore to check, develop and launch cutting-edge dietary merchandise suited to Asian palates.
Owned by FrieslandCampina, the Apac Application Centre is the biggest of 5 such laboratories worldwide owned by the Dutch dairy cooperative, recognized right here for its Dutch Lady milk that has been bought in Singapore for six a long time.
The new laboratory provides 5 new positions to the group’s current 110-strong group right here, and 30 per cent extra to its present analysis and growth flooring space at its premises positioned in Science Park Drive close to the National University of Singapore.
The group formally launched the centre on Sept 15 to visitors from main food producers comparable to Nestle, Morinaga, Reckitt, Abbott, in addition to officers from the Economic Development Board (EDB), which is supporting the centre with trade connections and grant purposes.
The board mentioned FrieslandCampina’s newest funding bolsters Singapore’s aim to be a regional hub for dietary food innovation and ecosystem that already contains names comparable to Mondelez, Danone and Nestle.
The Government commits about 1 per cent of nationwide output to its analysis and growth investments. In 2024, it
topped up its $25 billion Research Innovation and Enterprise budget
by $3 billion, mentioned EDB’s government vice-president Chan Ih-Ming on the launch.
FrieslandCampina’s new lab is stuffed with specialised gear for growing practical meals like yogurt, bars and dietary supplements, and brings collectively experience in ultra-high temperature (UHT) processing, analytical testing, sensory science and packaging.
Its president of enterprise group components, Mr Anne Peter Lindeboom, mentioned that with out a sizeable dairy trade, Singapore is probably going unable to develop such technology by itself.
The cooperative, which operates in 30 international locations and employs over 19,500 folks worldwide, is made up of over 9,000 dairy farms within the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. It reported €12.9 billion (S$19.4 billion) in revenues in 2024.
Mr Lindeboom declined to state the prices of the laboratory, however mentioned the Singapore facility is its single largest funding. Singapore has been the organisation’s regional base and its solely growth centre exterior the Netherlands since 2011.
He mentioned: “If you look at the underlying technology that we have for that clear protein, that is very cutting edge… So this is a very nice illustration of how Singapore can, even if its own end market is relatively small, can still leverage its knowledge, its economic position.”
The centre will serve clients in Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and South-east Asia.
FrieslandCampina’s new lab is stuffed with specialised gear for growing practical meals like yogurt, bars and dietary supplements.
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
The group selected to base the ability in Singapore, regardless of its greater prices of enterprise, for its expertise pool. The organisation plans to work with native universities and colleges in its growth.
Ms Alicia Tan, the ability’s undertaking supervisor, was given a price range and tasked to tug collectively distributors and colleagues to arrange the centre in 2024.
The 33-year-old Singaporean, who’s skilled in food science and technology, mentioned her aim now could be to efficiently commercialise ideas borne out of the laboratory throughout the subsequent two years.
She mentioned: “When we didn’t have this area, we always went back to Amersfoort, which is our headquarters. But for clients in the Asia-Pacific to travel down to our headquarters is very difficult because it takes a 12, 13-hour flight. Some probably don’t even have the budget.
“So having this place here means we can have our experts fly in to hold a webinar or a training session. At the same time, clients can reach out to this area, like it’s a common ground.”