Nestlé has played a longstanding and integral role in shaping Singapore’s food innovation landscape. With over 280,000 employees and operations in more than 80 countries, the Swiss company established its regional R&D hub here over four decades ago, and has steadily expanded its capabilities to meet the evolving needs of consumers across Asia and the world. Today, the Nestlé R&D Centre in Singapore serves as a critical node in the organisation’s global innovation network, developing science-based solutions that advance its agenda in nutrition, health, and sustainability.
Singapore remains central to Nestlé’s plans to lead the future of food. The 160-year-old company continues to strengthen its partnerships with local enterprises, startups, research institutions, and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). These collaborations have enabled it to create products that resonate with regional and international consumers, including Singapore-developed innovations like breakthrough sugar reduction technology and new experiences for both hot and cold coffee. These innovations have been integrated within offerings across Nestlé’s brands, including Nescafé, Starbucks, Blue Bottle, KitKat and Milo.
In this exclusive Q&A, Nestlé’s Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Prof. Dr. Stefan Palzer discusses the company’s global R&D focus, the strategic role of the R&D Centre in Singapore, and how Nestlé is harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and local partnerships to future-proof its innovation pipeline.