Nestlé Health Science and University of California, Davis Innovation Institute for Food & Health Announce Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Innovation in Nutrition and Health Science
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (OCTOBER 27, 2025) – Nestlé Health Science, a global leader in the science of nutrition, and the University of California, Davis Innovation Institute for Food & Health (IIFH), are proud to announce a new strategic partnership designed to advance innovation across nutrition, health science, and startup development.
Building on Nestlé Health Science’s commitment to fostering collaboration with leading global academic institutions, this partnership was created to accelerate the translation of innovative, nutrition-based solutions from the lab to the market, benefiting consumers and patients. Together, Nestlé Health Science and University of California, Davis will leverage their combined expertise to help address critical health challenges such as healthy aging, women’s health, metabolic health, gastrointestinal conditions, and disease-specific areas including chronic kidney disease, oncology, and pediatric health.
"Working alongside academic institutions provides valuable scientific insight and helps to drive meaningful innovation in health science,” said Eugenia Oton, Head of Nestlé Product Technology Center for Nestlé Health Science. “Our collaboration with The University of California, Davis Innovation Institute for Food & Health will enable us to accelerate the development of nutrition-based solutions that address some of the most pressing health challenges of our time, while also nurturing the next generation of scientific leaders."
“This partnership exemplifies how UC Davis builds collaborations that carry discovery into impact,” said Dr. Justin Siegel, Faculty Director of the IIFH and Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Molecular Medicine at UC Davis. “By working closely with Nestlé Health Science, we are creating new avenues to translate scientific breakthroughs into scalable solutions that can make the foods we love better for all people.”
Focus on initiatives across:
- Startups: Supporting the development of startups, providing business-specific and technical guidance, networking opportunities, and access to the broader Nestlé Health Science and IIFH innovation ecosystems
- Research: Prioritizing nutrition and health-related science, with a special emphasis on healthy longevity, women’s health, weight management, and the exploration of novel ingredients
- Student and Employee Engagement: Facilitating career discussions, mentorship, and internship opportunities to develop the next generation of leaders in health science
- Education: Supporting scientific advisory roles, co-speaking engagements, and visibility for startups in the UC Davis ecosystem, with a focus on identifying new opportunities for student engagement at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels
A Commitment to Global Collaboration
This partnership with IIFH is part of Nestlé Health Science’s ongoing commitment to advancing research and development through collaboration with world-class academic institutions. Nestlé Health Science is proud to collaborate with leading institutions globally, including the Food & Nutrition Innovation Institute at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and Australian Catholic University, to drive innovation and improve health outcomes for all.
About Nestlé Health Science
Nestlé Health Science, a leader in the science of nutrition, is a globally managed business unit of Nestlé. We are committed to redefining the management of health, offering an extensive portfolio of science-based consumer health, medical nutrition, pharmaceutical therapies, and vitamin and supplement brands. Our extensive research network provides the foundation for products that empower healthier lives through nutrition. Headquartered in Switzerland, we have more than 11,000 employees around the world, with products available in more than 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.nestlehealthscience.com.
Media Contact
Nestlé Health Science U.S. Media
nhscusmedia@us.nestle.com