StartLife welcomes Fuji Oil Global Innovation Center Europe to Plus Ultra II, the multi-tenant complex and incubator on Wageningen Campus. It’s Fuji Oil’s first research center to open in Europe and will promote open innovation.
The Fuji Oil’s Global Innovation Center Europe (GICE) will support and enhance innovation within Fuji Oil Group, with a focus on plant-based foods and sustainable processing. This knowledge is combined with expertise in specialty oils and fats to innovate plant-based food solutions. The Fuji Oil Group operates worldwide and has multiple regional R&D teams. The center in Wageningen will be headed by Dr Liz Kamei, and the core team of experts will work on a range of collaborative projects. Using open innovation and external partnering to access innovative technologies complementary to their business.
In the heart of cutting-edge plant-based R&D
Fuji Oil chose to base their first Group-wide outside of Asia in Wageningen because of its thriving ecosystem of food innovation and research. They see Wageningen Campus and the surrounding Food Valley region as the perfect location for building a network of collaborators in the industry and academia to support their initiatives for innovation and growth. Dr. Liz Kamei says: ““The Dutch Food Valley 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. “
“Mild, sustainable processing and plant-based foods will be the main focus of GICE.”
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 the Group’s ambitions to contribute to resolving social issues through the provision of sustainable, nutritious and delicious plant-based food solutions, a term that actually encompasses the entire business of the Fuji Oil Group, including the well-established vegetable fats and industrial chocolate businesses.
Plus Ultra II: Agrifoodtech community
Plus Ultra II, operated by Kadans Science Partner, offers office and lab spaces to startups, scale-ups and established companies and organizations that want to contribute to a vibrant community concerning agri & food and a healthy environment. On Wageningen Campus, knowledge institutions, the business sector and startups connect and exchange experiences. Any member of the Plus Ultra II community of can also benefit from the international network of the science parks and campuses of Kadans.
About Fuji Oil
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 6,000 talented people. Ever since its founding in 1950, Fuji Oil has adhered to the conviction that its path to survival and advancement lies in cultivating new fields through application of its originality, without following the lead of other companies. It generated sales of 364.8 billion yen in FY2020.