07 Aug Yili to pilot Cambridge University spin-out nutrient microcapsule technology
Materials technology company, Xampla, has announced a partnership with Yili Innovation Centre Europe to deploy its nutrient microcapsule technology.
A scale-up from the University of Cambridge, Xampla, will collaborate with Yili to test and validate its microscopic natural polymer capsules for fortifying vitamins and nutrients in a new range of products.
The world-first plant material protects ingredients in beverages, from production through to digestion, without changing product taste or texture. The technology guards against degradation risks from UV, pH, or heat shock in products, ensuring optimal fortification of well-being ingredients, bringing healthy food products to consumer globally independent of environmental conditions.
Rooted in 15 years of groundbreaking protein research, Xampla’s partnership with Yili marks a pivotal step in scaling the company’s technology from proof of concept to full scale production.
This collaboration will accelerate the deployment of Xampla’s nutrient microcapsules to global markets, introducing advanced fortification technology.
Yili is Asia’s largest and fastest-growing dairy company, ranked in the top five global dairy brands in 2023. The company is highly active across all dairy categories, including liquid milk, infant and adult milk powder, yogurt, ice cream, cheese, and more.
Yili Innovation Centre Europe collaborates with startups across the entire dairy supply chain and is an active player in the global innovation ecosystem, driving innovation for next-generation products.
Alexandra French, CEO of Xampla, said: “Having the support of this leading global dairy brand has further strengthened our position as leaders in food and beverage fortification technology. We look forward to seeing our groundbreaking, world-first microencapsulation technology make its way from the laboratory to a market of health and environment-conscious consumers.”
Gerrit Smit, Managing Director of Yili Innovation Center Europe (YICE), said: “We are excited to start this pilot collaboration with Xampla. Yili always strives to bring next-generation products with enhanced nutrition and health to consumers.”
Founded in 2014 and located at Wageningen University, YICE is a vital part of Yili’s global innovation network. The center has achieved significant results in areas such as breast milk research, probiotic development, food safety, and AI-assisted product development. It has established partnerships with Wageningen University, the University of Cambridge, the International Life Sciences Institute, and other European universities, research institutions, and partners. Currently, Yili has established 15 global innovation centers in Europe, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Japan, etc.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of YICE. At the ten-year achievement release ceremony, the center announced its future research focuses, including disruptive technology research, functional ingredient development, and the development of food for special medical purposes. This collaboration with Xampla is another significant move by Yili to accelerate global dairy technology breakthroughs and promote disruptive technology research.