Food and drink maker Nestlé has opened its first Research and Development (R&D) centre in Ireland.
The facility is based at its existing manufacturing facility in Limerick.
This marks the completion of a three-year programme with a capital investment of €27m.
The new R&D centre will focus on scientific research to support innovations in the development of milk-based maternal and infant nutrition products for the global market.
It was formally opened by Agriculture Minister Michael Creed and Thomas Hauser, head of global product and technology development for Nestlé.
Over 40 research staff are employed at the R&D centre, which is co-located with the company's Wyeth Nutrition manufacturing plant.
Wyeth produces a range of milk powder products for infants, young children and mothers for export.
Research and Development (R&D) at Nestlé in Ireland | Image: Nestlé
Minister Creed said: "This is a strategically important investment for Ireland by the world's largest food and beverage company.
"We are honoured to have a world leading research facility that provides a cutting-edge scientific base to develop new products that will bring health benefits to infants, children and mothers worldwide.
"Nestlé's decision to invest and open this centre further places Ireland internationally as a location that offers quality raw dairy materials combined with a highly educated and skilled workforce."
Momentous day at @Nestle @NestleUKI Askeaton with the opening of the new R&D centre. Great to have Thomas Hauser Head of Global Product and Technology Develoment Nestle S.A in Limerick joining Dan O'Callaghan Head Of R&D Askeaton pic.twitter.com/w3N8wBdspX
— Michael Creed TD (@creedcnw) January 21, 2019
Mr Hauser added: "Our Irish R&D centre will benefit from Nestlé's global R&D network and help to position Nestlé at the fore of infant and maternal nutritional product development, one of Nestlé's most important growth drivers.
"With this new centre, we will increase the pace of our innovation capacity by enabling our scientists to explore innovative nutritional solutions for the crucial first 1,000 days of life."
The project investment was supported by Enterprise Ireland.
Nestlé has the world's largest private food and nutrition research organisation with around 30 R&D centres and over 5,000 people worldwide.
In 2017, Nestlé invested about €1.3bn in R&D.
The company has over 70 brands across seven categories in the Irish market: beverage, confectionery, cereals, food, pet care, dairy and infant nutrition.
It employs over 750 people in Ireland.
