• Press release
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Danone opens Shanghai Research & Innovation Center to accelerate nutrition innovation

  • Corporate news
  • A new China-based hub serving China and Asia-Pacific while contributing to Danone’s global science and innovation agenda.
  • 5,200 m² of end-to-end capabilities, from research to industrialization, and bringing together more than 130 multidisciplinary experts.
  • Danone’s third OneBiome Lab worldwide, advancing research into nutrition, the gut microbiome and health.

Danone today inaugurated its new Research & Innovation Center in Shanghai, marking a new milestone in the Group’s global science and innovation strategy and strengthening the connection between one of the world’s most dynamic health and nutrition ecosystems and Danone’s global Research & Innovation network.

Bringing together nutrition science, microbiome research, digital health and pilot-scale capabilities, the Center will accelerate the development of science-based nutrition solutions for China, Asia-Pacific and beyond.

Science and innovation are at the heart of our mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible. The Danone Shanghai Research & Innovation Center opens a new chapter in Danone’s long-term commitment to China, building on local scientific expertise and China’s dynamic innovation ecosystem to accelerate meaningful innovation. Looking ahead, we will continue to step up investment in frontier areas such as nutrition science and digital health to help shape a healthier future through nutrition, in China and beyond.

Antoine de Saint-Affrique CEO of Danone

Advancing the Science Behind the Future of Nutrition

The 5,200 m² Danone Shanghai Research & Innovation Center brings together more than 130 multidisciplinary experts and a broad range of scientific and innovation capabilities under one roof. Its facilities include integrated research laboratories, a 900 m² Danone OneBiome Lab dedicated to microbiome research, a 300 m² science experience and consumer engagement hub, and a 700 m² pilot plant.

By combining consumer and patient understanding with nutrition science, microbiome research and digital technologies, the Center will strengthen Danone’s ability to explore evolving health and nutrition needs, generate new scientific insights and translate them into the next generation of nutrition solutions.

The third Danone OneBiome Lab worldwide, the Shanghai Lab is connected to Danone’s global microbiome research platform and will strengthen its capabilities in one of the most promising fields of nutrition science.

The Center builds on Danone’s longstanding scientific presence in China. Since 2020, Danone China has published 56 scientific papers, filed 27 patents and conducted nearly 30 local studies. Open collaboration will further strengthen this scientific ambition, bringing together universities, research institutes, healthcare and innovation partners to combine complementary expertise, develop scientific talent and accelerate innovation.

Nutrition science is evolving rapidly, opening new possibilities to better understand how nutrition, the microbiome and health interact throughout life. By connecting advanced science with consumer and patient insights, the Danone Shanghai Research and Innovation Center will help us, as part of Danone’s global Research & Innovation Network, translate these discoveries into the next generation of nutrition solutions to address the evolving needs of consumers and patients.

Isabelle Esser Chief Research, Innovation, Quality and Food Safety Officer of Danone.

Accelerating Innovation for China and Asia-Pacific

Bringing the full innovation chain together in Shanghai will allow Danone to stay closer to consumers and patients and respond faster to rapidly evolving health and nutrition needs across China and Asia-Pacific. Serving early life nutrition, adult medical nutrition and functional beverages, the Center will help accelerate the journey from local insight to relevant, scalable innovation.

As part of Danone’s global Research &Innovation network, the Danone Shanghai Center will create a two-way bridge between China and the rest of the world, bringing global science closer to local needs while enabling insights and innovations developed in China to contribute across Danone’s global network.

Guided by the Danone Impact Journey framework, the Center incorporates lower carbon technologies and tailored green solutions, including a smart energy management system, embedding energy efficiency and environmental responsibility into its daily operations.

China and Asia-Pacific are among the world’s most dynamic markets for health and nutrition. By bringing us closer to consumers and patients, the Danone Shanghai Research & Innovation Center will help us respond faster to evolving needs and accelerate relevant innovation across the region.

Bruno Chevot President of Danone Asia-Pacific and CEO of Danone China.