May 19 - On May 18th, Danone intends to make a significant investment to strengthen its Research and Development presence and expertise in Specialised Nutrition (Baby Nutrition and Medical Nutrition) in The Netherlands. It plans to integrate its Dutch-based R&D activities in a new innovation centre in Utrecht. The opening of the new centre is planned for 2012.
Danone is an expert in scientific food research, and wants to build further on its record of innovation and leadership in this area. Most of its R&D activities in the area of Specialised Nutrition are already based in the Netherlands, in locations in Wageningen, Zoetermeer, Cuijk and Schiphol.
“The planned Danone innovation centre in Utrecht will create excellent opportunities for the growth of our business and employees”, Danone head of R&D Sven Thormahlen says. “We want to build a new innovation centre for Specialised Nutrition for the 21st century in Utrecht Science Park. This is a reflection of the quality of the current teams and our desire to attract international talent. The Utrecht location is close to our Baby and Medical business in Amsterdam and gives us the possibility to strengthen this relationship. Our investment will give Danone another world-class Research Centre, to join our existing facility in Palaiseau, near Paris.”
Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, Maria van der Hoeven, congratulates Danone on the planned investment, saying that “Danone’s decision to move forward with this project shows that The Netherlands has a very competitive international offering for R&D and innovation. When it opens in 2012, the new innovation centre will be a very positive flagship for The Netherlands and the region. My Ministry and the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) in particular take personal pride in guaranteeing our continued support to Danone in the run-up to 2012 and beyond.”
The project to open a new integrated centre for R&D in 2012 will mean the transfer of activities in Research and Development from the four existing Dutch sites. Danone will work closely with employee representatives and potentially affected staff in the Netherlands to finalise the scope of the project, and has committed to make personal plans to support and facilitate its employees in moving to the new facilities, when the time comes.