PARIS — Danone SA inaugurated its Daniel Carasso International Research and Innovation Center on the Paris-Saclay campus on Feb. 6. The center will be dedicated to developing two of Danone’s categories: fresh dairy and plant-based products and natural mineral water.

Research will focus on five areas. The area of consumers and patients will seek to find solutions that meet needs and uses throughout life. A product portfolio area will focus on health and taste. Science and technology, the third area, will involve working with academia, partners and startups. Packaging research will aim to guarantee food safety and to meet environmental challenges. Collecting and analyzing data will help Paris-based Danone develop numerical services such as apps and improve traceability.

The first floor will house a reception hall and an area for tests with volunteer consumers. The second floor will house project spaces and food creation laboratories. The third floor through the fifth floor will house offices, co-working spaces, meeting rooms and prototyping and research laboratories in the fields of chemistry, physical chemistry, molecular biology and spectroscopic analysis.

The B-Corp.-labeled facility, to limit its impact on the environment, features wooden frames, photovoltaic panels, geothermal heating and cooling, and a water recover system.

Danone also unveiled a new product in HiPRO Expert, a yogurt containing protein, vitamins and minerals that was developed in collaboration with athletes and Danone researchers. The product was developed for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Danone is an official partner of the event.