Firmenich, the world’s largest privately owned perfume and taste company, announces its new scientific advisory board (SAB), which includes leading independent scientists who will help to guide the Group’s research and development strategy.
Meeting regularly, the SAB provides world-class insight into the development of fields of science, including biotechnology, neuroscience, materials science, artificial intelligence and health, identifying potential new business opportunities.
The SAB also reviews the Research portfolio to provide strategic input into differentiating focus areas for Firmenich. The seven members of the SAB are
- Patrick Aebischer (Chair), former president EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne
- Markus Antonietti, Professor; Director of the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (GER)
- Regina Barzilay, Distinguished Professor for AI and Health, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Dept., MIT (US)
- Antoine Firmenich, Member of the Firmenich Board of Directors; CEO and Managing Director of Aquilus Pte Ltd
- Chaitan Khosla, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Stanford University (US)
- Sarah Reisinger, Chief Research Officer, Firmenich
- Richard Ridinger, Member of the Firmenich Board of Directors; former CEO of Lonza.
“The new SAB reinforces a legacy of high-level scientific collaboration by Firmenich that extends from 1939 Nobel Chemistry Laureate Leopold Ruzicka to multiple research partnerships with prestigious institutions today,” said Firmenich CEO Gilbert Ghostine.
“The SAB brings additional insight from the leading edge of science that can help us identify future opportunities and open the next chapters of innovation in perfume and taste for the benefit of our customers.”
“I am thrilled that such eminent scientists with track records of breakthrough discovery are enthusiastically sharing their knowledge of scientific and technological trends with us,” said Chief Research Officer Sarah Reisinger. “They bring tremendous inspiration and advice to our R&D team and we are all looking forward to the impact the SAB will have on the future direction of our research.”
Firmenich’s R&D division, which comprises six global research centers, also works closely with a network of open innovation partners worldwide to develop distinctive ingredients and technologies. They range from dynamic start-ups and companies to renowned academic research institutes and advisers.