Nestlé accelerates open innovation in nutrition and health through academic collaborations and startups

November 4, 2025 | Company News

Nestlé is partnering with universities to accelerate open innovation in nutrition and health Nestlé is committed to developing nutritional solutions that address new growth platforms such as women’s health, healthy longevity and weight…

Nestlé is partnering with universities to accelerate open innovation in nutrition and health

Nestlé is committed to developing nutritional solutions that address new growth platforms such as women’s health, healthy longevity and weight management. As part of its efforts to deliver innovations that meet specific health needs, the company is leveraging its wide-ranging research and development expertise, exploring emerging technologies, and partnering with academic institutions and startups.

With the University of California, Davis Innovation Institute for Food & Health (IIFH), Nestlé Health Science is entering a strategic partnership designed to advance innovation across nutrition and health and startup development. Through this partnership, the company will work to identify and bring to market nutrition-based solutions that address areas such as women’s health, healthy longevity and weight management. Nestlé Health Science and the University of California, Davis will also explore collaborative research and student engagement opportunities.

In Australia, Nestlé Health Science will work with the Australian Catholic University in Melbourne to accelerate startup innovation through its incubator program in women’s health, healthy longevity and weight management. This initiative will also include potential opportunities for student mentorship and collaboration on future research projects.

The company also recently announced the third edition of its Innovation Challenge with the Food & Nutrition Innovation Institute at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, focusing on women’s health intersecting with healthy longevity. Winners will receive world-class support from Nestlé Health Science and Tufts University to drive innovations.

“We want to encourage new solutions in health science through working directly with individuals who have brilliant ideas and could use professional guidance to develop them,” said Hans Manning, Vice President of Innovation & Strategy at the R&D centre for Nestlé Health Science in Bridgewater, New Jersey. “The strategic partnerships with the universities allow us to work with entrepreneurs to help them bring highly differentiated products to the market in three key areas: women’s health, healthy longevity, and weight management. The ultimate aim is to provide science-based, groundbreaking nutritional solutions to advance the health status of consumers and patients.”

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