Danone Research – Centre for Specialised Nutrition is a life sciences innovation centre for the development of new product concepts for Baby Nutrition and Medical Nutrition. Both divisions have gathered a rich expertise in research, and provide preclinical and clinical substantiation for the health benefits of our new concepts for vulnerable people - from the very young through to the elderly and patients.

Danone Baby Nutrition has a special focus on bringing science to early life. We partner with parents, health care professionals and knowledge institutions and policy makers to provide specialised nutrition for infants and young children, to complement breastfeeding, for healthy growth and the best start in life. Research and development is at the heart of our strategy. Our research programs are addressing all aspects of early life: from maternal physiology during pregnancy and lactation, via composition and health benefits of human milk, to development of gut function and microbiota, immune system, brain and metabolism of the baby and toddler.

The objective of R&D for Danone Medical Nutrition is to ensure Medical Nutrition is an integral part of disease treatment plans for people of all ages - from premature birth to the terminal phases of life. We have deep scientific expertise in understanding physiological disease processes and the role of nutrients, and we invest in scientific areas key to our business, such as immunology, protein science and neuroscience.  At the same time, a strong technological expertise is required to deal with complex formulations and to develop high quality products with a long shelf-life that are good-tasting and appealing to our patients.  To serve our research needs, we operate in a strong worldwide network of scientific and technological partners, including research institutes, universities, academic hospitals and industries. Innovation through quality, exclusivity and momentum is thus guaranteed and we continuously seek to strengthen this network.

Danone has R&D facilities worldwide, with our current major centres in The Netherlands (Wageningen, Zoetermeer and Cuijk), France (Palaiseau), Germany (Friedrichsdorf) and UK (Liverpool). In 2013, Danone Research – Centre for Specialised Nutrition will move to the Utrecht Science Park, combining the Dutch, German and UK locations in one state-of-the-art innovation centre. That’s why we have embarked on a strategic alliance with Utrecht Life Sciences with the goal of intensifying collaboration in the areas of research, education and entrepreneurship.