Great-tasting food with substantially reduced sugar and salt content: fat-free products with a soft, creamy texture and probiotics with proven effects on gastrointestinal health. Just a few of the recent innovations in food manufacturing that owe their existence to our fundamental-level research.
Where can you find the interdisciplinary expertise and collaboration that are essential to break new ground? What precise combination of skills, experience and organisational structure are needed to guarantee results? Is the research direction in line with partner company strategies? Can to minimize the high levels of risk and cost?
Combining strengths
At TI Food and Nutrition we believe that combining strengths delivers the answers to these questions. Our precompetitive research programme provides industry partners with the knowledge base needed to innovate in food and nutrition.
Together with our partners we define long-term goals for fundamental, interdisciplinary research; exchanging knowledge and sharing expertise, research facilities and costs. Our partners have direct access to leading groups in food and nutrition research in the Netherlands and abroad and, as major contributors to innovation and economic growth in the Netherlands, receive significant support from the Dutch Government.
Theme approach
Recently, TI Food and Nutrition changed to a Theme-based research approach, closely aligned with the long-term business strategies and R&D capabilities of our industry partners. They participate in research that caters directly to the research goals of their company. | Research themes
For the 2011-2014 programme, TI Food and Nutrition research will be organised into Themes and cross-Theme Platforms. Leadership from our industry partners guarantees industrial relevance and TI Food and Nutrition’s track record and experience ensures scientific excellence. Each research Theme is carried out together with the research partners having the best competences in each Theme.
Market driven
Since its foundation in 1997, TI Food and Nutrition has consistently met the goal of providing its industry partners with leads for innovation. Some examples include insights into probiotic efficacy and weight management to support health claims, advanced technologies for salt and sugar reduction in foods, and a recipe for optimal creaminess in fat-free custards and puddings.
According to the 2009 mid-term evaluation by the Innovation Programme Food and Nutrition - in which TI Food and Nutrition collaborates with Food & Nutrition Delta (FND) - the turnover from healthy foods in the Netherlands, during the previous year, had more than doubled to almost 20%. Until now some 120 innovation projects have been financed, enabling TI Food and Nutrition partners and small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) to translate new learning into market-driven applications.
Cluster Projects
To enhance creative activities in SMEs, TI Food and Nutrition collaborates closely with Food & Nutrition Delta (FND). For instance, Cluster Projects have been developed in which TI Food and Nutrition’s partners and SMEs (FND clients) work together taking research findings further, eventually putting new products onto our supermarket shelves. |