IFF has announced the opening of its new Singapore Innovation Centre, the first in its global network of research, creative and application centres to integrate the technologies, capabilities, and expertise of all four business divisions: Nourish, Health & Biosciences, Scent and Pharma Solutions. At nearly 11,000 square meters, it is IFF’s largest in the region.
Its launch—following IFF’s newly operational Singapore Flexiblend plant in Tuas—marks the latest in the company’s nearly US$30 million investment into Singapore. The two sites are part of a series of aggressive investments IFF is making to accelerate innovation, broaden its co-creation capabilities, drive speed to market and enhance accessibility to customers across Asia.
“By 2030, Asia is projected to account for 60 percent of global economic growth,” said Frank Clyburn, chief executive officer of IFF.
“For IFF, Asia has demonstrated consistent growth, and we see tremendous opportunity in the future. Just this year, we’ve opened innovation centres in the U.S., Latin America, Europe and now Singapore, demonstrating our commitment to advance scientific discovery globally. Together, these significant investments will fast forward innovation across our broad portfolio, supporting our customers in bringing differentiated, new-to-world solutions that benefit people and planet.”
Situated in Singapore’s premier biomedical research hub, the ultra-modern centre features more than ten creation, design and analytical laboratories, a collaboration studio, and culinary and demo kitchens, providing customers with full sensory capabilities to support each stage of the process from ideation through commercialization. It has one of the biggest dairy processing pilot plants in Southeast Asia, replicating large-scale industrial production processes.
The centre also houses IFF’s global innovation centre for fabric care powders and personal wash, the largest scent evaluation facility worldwide, and is the first IFF location to support all scent product categories.
“In this integrated space, we will unlock cross-divisional synergies, fast-tracking innovation and accelerating new growth opportunities,” said Ramon Brentan, IFF Singapore Innovation Centre site leader, and vice president, Greater Asia regional general manager, Scent, IFF.
“We are very well positioned to offer a comprehensive portfolio for Asian consumers, offering end-to-end solutions that consumers love in food, beverage, health, biosciences, and scent. This centre is a true powerhouse of innovation and will further strengthen our position as a strategic co-creation partner to our customers in Asia.”
The state-of-the-art Singapore Flexiblend plant—which had its grand opening on Oct. 12—will increase supply robustness and provide customized biotechnology solutions catered to the grain processing and animal nutrition and health customers in the region.
“We are delighted that IFF chose Singapore to establish its largest innovation facility in Asia. Along with their new Flexiblend plant, these investments demonstrate how innovation and solution-driven companies can leverage Singapore’s talent, scientific capabilities, and access to regional markets to develop new, sustainable products for Asian consumers,” said Mr. Tan Kong Hwee, executive vice president, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
“In Singapore’s push towards environmentally sustainable growth opportunities in food, wellbeing, home and consumer care, EDB will partner like-minded companies such as IFF for their growth plans and create interesting jobs for Singaporeans in these areas.”
IFF is present in 14 countries across Greater Asia and has operated in Singapore since 1969. The Singapore Innovation Centre is part of IFF’s network of more than 50 research, creative and design centres, which help bring differentiated and integrated solutions to customers around the world.
