Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) has entered into a joint collaboration agreement with DP Beverages, Ltd., (DP), an affiliate of The Coca-Cola Company, to develop potential new technologies and innovations that add value to consumers and support a sustainable world. Through this open-innovation partnership, Coca-Cola will establish external technology activities in Singapore. This will set the stage for cutting-edge research in different areas.
As one of Coca-Cola's external partners, A*STAR will complement Coca-Cola's existing R&D centres in Asia. The partnership with A*STAR will tap onto both parties' expertise in a range of advanced technologies and research fields that will help Coca-Cola to optimise its production processes, as well as gain new insights into consumer needs and preferences. By providing opportunities for researchers at A*STAR to embark on collaborations with Coca-Cola's R&D centres globally, this partnership will also boost A*STAR's research activities in food and nutrition research.
The Coca-Cola Company is the latest multinational company in the food industry to enter into partnership with A*STAR. Food and beverage companies are adapting to meet changing consumer needs. These companies are responding to their consumers changing profiles by innovating and developing products customised for Asian markets. By locating in Singapore and basing their R&D activities on Singapore's multi-ethnic population, food, beverage and nutrition companies stand to gain better understanding of 3.4 billion of the world's population that is located in Asia.
Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR, said, "A*STAR has been rapidly growing our research in the area of food and nutrition over the past few years. We look forward to sharing our R&D expertise with one of the top food and beverage companies in the world. This latest collaboration with Coca-Cola adds further to the expanding research ecosystem for food and nutrition innovation in Singapore. Public-private partnership such as this clearly demonstrates Singapore's position as Asia's Innovation Capital."
Ms Nancy Quan, VP and Global R&D Officer for Coca-Cola, said, "Through this partnership with A*STAR, we can leverage their strong research capability to develop new products and technologies for our global consumers; as well as tap into their knowledge of Asian consumers to provide solutions for the dynamic and growing Asia/Pacific markets."
For media queries and clarifications, please contact:
Ms. Vithya Selvam
Senior Officer
Corporate Communications Department
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Tel: (+65) 6826 6291
Email: vithya_selvam@a-star.edu.sg
Mr. Petro Kacur
Media Relations Director
The Coca-Cola Company
+1 404-676-2683
About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector agency that fosters world-class scientific research and talent to drive economic growth and transform Singapore into a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation driven economy. In line with its mission-oriented mandate, A*STAR spearheads research and development in fields that are essential to growing Singapore's manufacturing sector and catalysing new growth industries. A*STAR supports these economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry.
A*STAR oversees 18 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research entities, located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis, as well as their vicinity. These two R&D hubs house a bustling and diverse community of local and international research scientists and engineers from A*STAR's research entities as well as a growing number of corporate laboratories. Please visit http://www.a-star.edu.sg
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our Company's portfolio features 17 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.9 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at http://www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at http://www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.