Nestlé plans to establish a new “deep tech” center to enhance its research and development capabilities in biotechnology. The center, a first of its kind in the food and nutrition industry, aims to boost Nestlé’s innovation pipeline, increase efficiency in research and operations, and drive growth. The facility, expected to open in 2026, will be located at the existing Nestlé System Technology Center in Orbe, Switzerland.
The deep tech center will focus on developing cutting-edge technologies such as sensors, robots, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality to improve research, innovation, and operations. The center will also explore new solutions for precision nutrition, dynamic quality assurance, and innovative coffee machines. Nestlé’s CEO, Laurent Freixe, believes that the new capabilities in biotech and deep tech will fuel growth by meeting changing consumer needs and accelerating the company’s digital transformation.
The center will build on Nestlé’s existing expertise in sensor systems, product recognition, and remote control solutions. The company expects the facility to lead to the development of new nutritional solutions, boosting its consumer-centric innovation pipelines for maternal, early life, and medical nutrition. The center will also support new growth platforms such as healthy longevity, women’s health, and weight management. Additionally, science-based solutions will be leveraged for Nestlé’s pet care business, including pet therapeutics.
Stefan Palzer, Nestlé’s CTO, noted that the company is transforming its R&D organization to embrace science and technology trends and seize growth opportunities. The deep tech center will deliver new ingredients with clinically proven bio-efficacy for precision nutrition and maximize efficiency in innovation and operations. The facility is expected to drive the next generation of screening assays, enhanced capabilities in precision fermentation, and a reinforced clinical research program. Overall, the deep tech center is a significant investment in Nestlé’s innovation capabilities and is expected to drive growth and competitiveness in the food and nutrition industry.