Our R&D organization

Nestlé’s Research & Development organization is the largest in the food and beverage industry, with around 4 000 employees working at 23 locations worldwide. This is how we’re set up.

Fundamental research

Nestlé Research provides the scientific foundation for our innovations, from food safety, basic nutrition and health research to applied research for product development and packaging. Our sites in Vers-chez-les-Blanc and EPFL Innovation Park in Lausanne, Switzerland, house four research institutes: Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Nestlé Institute of Food Safety & Analytical Science, Nestlé Institute of Material Sciences and Nestlé Institute of Packaging Sciences.

We recently announced the creation of a fifth institute, Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences, which will focus on the areas of plant science, dairy livestock and agricultural systems science.

Our Clinical Development Unit is also based in Lausanne. This central research entity is supported by Nestlé's plant science research hub in Tours, France, our Singapore Research Hub, which focuses on maternal and infant nutrition, and Nestlé Purina, which carries out petcare research in St.Louis, Missouri, United States.

Category-focused product development

Nestlé Product Technology Centers (NPTCs) translate our scientific discoveries to develop products and technologies for specific categories such as beverages, pet care, culinary, dairy, confectionery and infant nutrition. Our regional innovation centers in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa work to develop products for local needs, as part of their local innovation ecosystems.

Within R&D we can draw on 30 plus years of inhouse expertise in beverage systems. Our System Technology Center in Orbe, Switzerland, offers expertise in machines, packaging and products for in and out of home. One recent system developed here, together with Nestlé Professional, is Roastelier, our compact coffee roasting solution, another is nesQuino.