Schipper Bosch acquires Food Innovation Park to expand European food and protein innovation hub

Schipper Bosch and NIZO Food Research have signed agreements covering the acquisition of the Food Innovation Park real estate in Ede, the Netherlands, launching a new phase of development for a site that aims to become a leading European center for food innovation, health, and protein transition.

The agreement, announced on June 18, sees Schipper Bosch become owner and long-term developer of the site, while NIZO retains its role as a leading food research institute and innovation partner within the growing ecosystem.

• Schipper Bosch acquired the Food Innovation Park real estate from NIZO Food Research and committed to further developing the site in Ede.
• NIZO retained its role as a leading food research institute and innovation driver within the ecosystem.
• Planned investments included sustainable building upgrades, shared facilities, and expansion of the park's food innovation and scale-up capabilities.

The transaction allows both organizations to focus on their core activities. NIZO will continue its work as an independent food research organization, while Schipper Bosch will oversee the site's future growth, infrastructure development, and long-term vision.

Located in the heart of the Dutch Foodvalley region, the Food Innovation Park is dedicated to the future of sustainable proteins, scale-up capabilities, and innovative food solutions. The site combines research expertise with pilot-scale and demonstration-scale infrastructure designed to help companies accelerate the journey from development to commercialization.

Among its key assets are the Biotechnology Fermentation Factory (BFF) and what is described as Europe's largest flexible food-grade pilot plant. Together with NIZO's research capabilities, these facilities provide companies with opportunities to test, validate, and scale new food technologies before entering commercial production.

The park is also home to NoPalm Ingredients, which is developing a demonstration facility for its microbial oil technology as an alternative to conventional palm oil. The company has described the installation as a blueprint for future scale-up projects seeking to bridge the gap between pilot development and full-scale manufacturing.

Under the new ownership structure, Schipper Bosch plans to make targeted investments to strengthen the site's role as a destination for food innovation and industrial scale-up.

These investments will include sustainability upgrades to existing buildings and installations, the creation of shared facilities such as a restaurant and meeting spaces, and the development of a connecting "Food Innovation Strip" intended to encourage interaction between companies, researchers, and entrepreneurs across the campus.

The company also plans to implement a broader spatial redevelopment strategy designed to create a future-proof innovation ecosystem capable of supporting long-term growth.

According to the partners, the collaboration will focus on three main areas: developing a long-term spatial vision and sustainable redevelopment plan for the site, expanding the ecosystem through new companies, facilities, and partnerships, and strengthening connections with the wider Foodvalley region, including Wageningen Campus and the Food Innovation District.

Schipper Bosch, which has more than 35 years of experience in area and real estate development, is known for projects including Cleantech Park Arnhem, De Nieuwe Stad, and Zwitsal Buitenstad. The company specializes in transforming industrial and commercial sites into innovation-focused environments that bring together businesses, researchers, and entrepreneurs.

The signing marked the beginning of a new phase for the Food Innovation Park. The partners said the site would continue evolving into a leading pan-European location where companies, researchers, and entrepreneurs work together on solutions to food system challenges.

Nikolaas Vles, CEO of NIZO, said the agreement would help accelerate the park's development while allowing NIZO to remain focused on research and innovation.

“For decades, NIZO has been dedicated to leading research and innovation in the fields of food safety, health and protein innovation,” said Vles. “With Schipper Bosch as our partner – bringing strong experience in developing innovative campuses – we can transform the site into an open, future-proof ecosystem where companies and knowledge institutions can scale up faster. This is an important step for the region and for the international food transition.”

According to the partners, initial investments will begin this year, with work focused on strengthening the position of both NIZO and the Food Innovation Park while attracting talent, research partners, and innovative companies to the site.

Bart Schoonderbeek, CEO of Schipper Bosch, said the company saw significant potential in the site's combination of research expertise, scale-up infrastructure, and growing community of food technology businesses. “The Food Innovation Park has everything it needs to grow into a truly distinctive hub where science, entrepreneurship and technology reinforce one another. We believe in the power of locations with a strong identity and look forward to further developing the park in the coming years. With NIZO as a key user and driver of innovation, we can build on what is already here and create space for the continued growth of the ecosystem.”