(From left) Dr Sam Pitroda, chairman of National Innovation Council, Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CMD, Biocon Group and Mr John Landgraf, executive vice president, Global Nutrition, Abbott, at the inauguration
Bangalore: Dr Sam Pitroda, advisor to the Prime Minister of India on Public Information Infrastructure & Innovations and chairman of the National Innovation Council, inaugurated Abbott's first nutrition research and development center in the country. This center is in collaboration with Syngene and is located at the sprawling Biocon Park in Bangalore.
More than 50 researchers and scientists will be based at this Abbott Nutrition R&D Center. The new R&D center will focus on the development of nutrition products for maternal and child nutrition and diabetes care. Among the products being developed for the Indian market are meal complements for diabetics and pre-diabetics. In addition, the center will address local taste and texture preferences with new flavors and formulations.
The state-of-the-art R&D center hopes to enable the expansion of Abbott's nutrition product portfolio. The facility will extend to over 13,000sq feet and house a range of integrated capabilities, including product development and analytical laboratories and a dedicated laboratory for analyzing flavor, sensory elements and packaging. The analytical lab will be equipped with technology for a broad spectrum of nutritional analysis ranging from micronutrient to microbiological testing.
"India is a priority market for investment, growth and innovation," said Mr Robert H Miller, divisional vice president, Global R&D and Scientific Affairs for Abbott Nutrition. "Our strategic collaboration with Syngene will accelerate the design, development and delivery of science-based, affordable nutrition products in India, for India."
Speaking at the inauguration, Mr John Landgraf, executive vice president, Global Nutrition, Abbott, said, "Abbott's scientific heritage has driven the growth of our company, which has been in India for over 100 years. This new R&D center in Bangalore will play a pivotal role in getting us even closer to the Indian market and addressing the nutritional requirements of the Indian consumer."
The nutrition market in India is relatively new and growing steadily. In addition to the undernutrition and diabetes issues facing India, a rapidly expanding middle class and aging population are driving increased demand in the country for high-quality, affordable nutrition products.
"It's a landmark day for Abbott Nutrition and Syngene, as they shape their common vision of innovating towards a healthier India through affordable nutrition products," said Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chairman & managing director, Biocon Group. "The combined market insights and nutrition science expertise of our two organizations will enable us to address the healthcare and nutritional challenges of an emerging economy like India across a diverse range of diseases that straddle both infectious and chronic maladies," she added.
