Ingredion Inc. will look to give customers new consumer-centric ways to create innovative, profitable products with the opening of Ingredion Idea Labs.
With three U.S. facilities and 21 others being launched worldwide by the end of 2014, Ingredion Idea Labs innovation centers are dedicated to fostering science-based collaboration and problem solving for food, beverage and industrial customers in four key areas: consumer insights, applied research, applications knowhow and process technology.
“We are pushing the boundaries of product functionality and how we identify and address deep-seated consumer preferences,” said Tony DeLio, senior vice-president and chief innovation officer, Ingredion.
Ingredion said the network of 24 labs represents “an expansion and rebranding of the R.&D. and technical service foundation” of Ingredion and its legacy companies, Corn Products and National Starch.
“Customers in more than 100 countries will be able to get services at greater depth and scale than ever before,” said Joseph Light, vice-president of global development, Ingredion. “The labs combine sweetness, texture and cost optimization capabilities with nutrition, clean labeling, delivery systems and biomaterials expertise and facilities.”
The Ingredion Idea Labs global center in Bridgewater, N.J., features new sweetness capabilities and facilities used for balancing sweetness and texture through the company’s proprietary DIAL-IN Technology and acts as the global hub for applied research. Labs in each region will offer expanded sensory and culinology capabilities, Ingredion said.
“The labs will answer tough product design questions through close, confidential collaboration with customers as well as open innovation with partners and academic researchers,” Mr. DeLio said.
Ingredion initially is launching the Idea Labs innovation centers in the United States, with labs in Bedford Park, Ill., and Indianapolis, as well as the global center in Bridgewater, N.J. By the end of 2014, they will be joined by labs covering Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific, South America, Mexico and Canada.
