Plus Ultra II Wageningen launches Food Innovation Kitchen
Wageningen, November 26, 2025 – On 13 November, Kadans Science Partner (“Kadans”) launched the Food Innovation Kitchen, located in Plus Ultra II Wageningen, in collaboration with StartLife and Wageningen University & Research. The Food Innovation Kitchen is shared facility for food development and ingredient design.
Unique facility for food innovation
The Food Innovation Kitchen was created to inspire breakthroughs in ingredient design and food development. This unique addition to the thriving Agri and Food cluster in Wageningen offers start-ups, scale-ups, corporates, and researchers access to state-of-the-art kitchens, application labs, and a professional environment. Here, ideas can be tested, validated, and transformed into the next generation of food products.
Equipped for collaboration
Focusing on alternative proteins, functional ingredients, and the valorisation of side and residual streams, the facility features two fully equipped Application Kitchens, a Demonstration Kitchen for tastings and co-creation sessions, and high-quality food photography. Users benefit from shared access to professional processing and analytical equipment, ensuring efficient and cost-effective R&D workflows. Its open layout encourages direct interaction between chefs, developers, partners, and client, shortening feedback loops and accelerating product refinement.
Foodvalley ecosystem
Situated within Plus Ultra II at Wageningen Campus, the Food Innovation Kitchen is embedded in the broader Foodvalley ecosystem. The facility strengthens the region through a shared infrastructure that lowers barriers to experimentation and fosters cross-sector collaboration. Start-ups and established organisations alike can now access state-of-the-art equipment, application laboratories, and a hands-on experience to accelerate their R&D.
Monique Bremer, Account Manager Shared Research Facilities at Wageningen University & Research: “The shared kitchen offers a simple pay-per-use setup, giving businesses the freedom to book the facility only when they actually need it. Because Wageningen University & Research has extensive experience in coordinating shared facilities, the kitchen is a practical solution for organisations of all sizes. We want companies to benefit from high-quality facilities without having to commit to anything long term.”
Pim van Os, Asset Manager at Kadans Science Partner: “This shared space reflects the collective commitment to driving sustainable, impactful food innovation. By providing a place where entrepreneurs can innovate and experiment, while giving back to the community, the Food Innovation Kitchen helps ensure a connected and future-focused ecosystem for the food solutions of tomorrow.”
Learn more about the Food Innovation Kitchen here.
This project has been realised in part through funding from Regio Deal Foodvalley I.
Images courtesy of Kalsec Inc. and Wageningen University & Research.
