Dialpha Asset Acquisition Among Milestones as Naturex Open Innovation Program Marks One Year

13 Apr 2017 --- Since its launch in March 2016, Naturex’s Ingenium Program has seen a number of significant achievements and is well-positioned to support Naturex in reaching its Bright2020 (5-year plan) objectives, the company reports. The open innovation program was launched with the aim of advancing technological breakthroughs and accelerating the introduction of new products through external collaborations.

The company's latest announcement includes the acquisition of certain assets from a French company, Dialpha SAS, including patents, trademarks and clinical research on three nutraceutical ingredients targeting human health. These specialized cashew, cinnamon and chicory ingredients are purpose built to assist in controlling blood glucose levels and healthy weight management. 

It is Naturex’s intention to assess the possible advancement or refinement of these researched products and create synergistic combinations with other Naturex ingredients, the company announced.

Over the past year, Naturex has partnered with a number of organizations from around the world, with collaborations including licensing agreements with the Barry Callebaut group which led to the launch of Cocoactiv’, a high-flavanol cocoa extract, and with Poland-based Adamed, which resulted in the market introduction of Aronox, an aronia extract targeting cardiovascular health. 

Other companies like Mazza Innovation, FP Innovation, EPC Natural Products, In-Vitro Plant-tech and Green2Chem have also joined forces with Naturex in the development of sustainable and innovative natural solutions.

“The program’s biggest success so far has been Naturex’s ability to tap into external resources and technologies. The impact and response was immediate when we announced the program. It is difficult to say which collaboration in particular has been most successful since Ingenium is seeking a mix of opportunities that have an impact within 3 years or greater than 3 years. The key here is the balance of these,” Doug Klaiber, who leads the implementation of the Ingenium Program worldwide, tells NutritionInsight.

“It has been a busy and productive year for the Open Innovation program at Naturex,” Klaiber says. “We have been very pleased with the number of quality opportunities that have been presented to us in our first year. At the moment, we have dozens of projects in the pipeline and we are being presented with new opportunities almost daily. Our current challenge is narrowing in and focusing on the projects that most closely reflect our business and values.”

To this end, Naturex has announced four key areas of interest for potential collaboration: natural sources of color (especially blue/green/red), new natural food preservation solutions, natural phytoactive ingredients for human health and beauty, and nature fortified ingredients or technologies for nutrition (minerals & vitamins)

“In the coming weeks and months you will see Naturex announce business collaborations targeting these key areas as we have several in the pipeline,” Klaiber says.