Fuji Oil Group to Establish Global Innovation Center Europe in the Netherlands

Japanese firm’s first R&D center in Europe will promote open innovation in sustainable food development

Dr. Liz Kamei

Fuji Oil Holdings has announced the establishment of their Global Innovation Center Europe in the Netherlands. It is the Japan-based company’s fourth R&D center, and the first to be based in Europe. It is a further step in the group’s plans to globalize its R&D structure and expand its innovation ecosystem.

Fuji Oil Group CTO Mr. Haruyasu Kida says: ‘We have been working towards establishing an R&D network that reflects the global scale of our Group. The new Global Innovation Center will play a key part in delivering on this strategy’.

Fuji Oil’s Global Innovation Center Europe (GICE) will be established at the Wageningen University and Research Campus in the heart of the Dutch Foodvalley region. The company expects to open its office in the Plus Ultra II building, a development by Kadans Science Partner in September 2021.

Sustainable solutions for the future of food

Dr. Liz Kamei, head of the new center, says: ‘The Dutch Foodvalley region and Wageningen University are at the leading edge of technology developments in mild, sustainable processing and plant-based foods, which will be the main focus of GICE. We have been part of this food-related ecosystem for the last three years and GICE will enable us to expand our activities to generate win-wins for the Fuji Oil Group and our innovation partners. We expect that GICE to be at the fore-front in developing innovations that will lead to growth and new businesses for the Fuji Oil Group.

GICE will operate an open innovation approach to R&D. Experts at the Center will work with partners from academia and industry in consortia or one-to-one projects to identify, evaluate and speed up the deployment of new technologies that align with Fuji Oil Group’s ambitions to contribute to resolving social issues through the provision of sustainable, nutritious and delicious plant-based food solutions.

With its establishment in the Netherlands, Fuji Oil Group joins the world-leading Dutch agrifood ecosystem which has a strong focus on future food solutions. The company was assisted in its European expansion by the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), part of the Invest in Holland network.

About Fuji Oil Holdings

Fuji Oil Group is a global food ingredient manufacturer engaged in four key businesses: specialty oils & fats, industrial chocolate, emulsified & fermented ingredients and plant-based food solutions, which ranges from soy protein products to soy-based processed food products. With Headquarters in Japan, the group has companies in 14 countries and employs nearly 6000 people.

Source: Fuji Oil Group press release (PDF)

3 August 2021