Plant-based ingredients company, Roquette, has opened new offices and an innovation centre in Singapore, which will focus on food, nutrition and pharma to better address eating habits and health concerns of Asian consumers.
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The facilities will enable the company to tailor its products and address the specific health and dietary challenges of the region such as obesity or diabetes and will include a research laboratory, customer technical services and regional headquarters.
“As a global business leader, we know that we need to adapt our solutions to the specific needs of the different markets,” explained Jean-Marc Gilson, CEO of Roquette. “By expanding our international research capability, we can ensure our products contribute to improving health and well-being of millions of consumers around the world. Our facilities in Singapore will allow us to explore new ways to address specific health and nutrition needs of Asian customers and consumers through plant-based ingredients such as sugar alternatives, vegetal proteins or pharmaceutical excipients, among many others.”
The new facilities will complement the company’s existing global research and application centres and will allow it to partner with customers, universities and research institutions, such as Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) or the National University of Singapore. The new innovation centre, located in Biopolis — an international research and development hub in Asia Pacific — adds to Roquette’s presence in the region.
“Singapore’s connectivity with countries throughout Asia makes it the perfect place to locate these new facilities, which will be a key part of our global network,” Gilson added. “The talent and skills of Singapore professionals are impressive, and our local team will make a big impact. We are looking forward to foster closer collaboration with our customers and partners as well as further develop our business activities in the region and continue to invest in Asia over the next few years.”
“I am delighted to witness the official opening of Roquette’s Innovation Centre in Biopolis. Having developed a strong base of public R&D capabilities and infrastructure, Singapore is currently home to the R&D centres of some of the world’s largest food, nutrition and pharmaceutical companies to drive innovation for Asia and beyond,” stated Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR. “The strategic expansion by leading companies like Roquette is testament to Singapore’s reputation as a world class Research, Innovation and Enterprise hub and A*STAR’s strategy of public-private partnerships under the Open Innovation Framework to create value and good jobs in Singapore.”
“Roquette’s Asia Pacific Headquarters and Innovation Centre is a welcome addition to our vibrant ecosystem for Consumer Businesses. This investment also reflects Singapore’s position as the leading Food and Nutrition and Healthcare Hub for global businesses to execute their growth strategies in the Asia Pacific region,” summarised Dr Beh Swan Gin, chairman of Economic Development Board.