Advancing Innovation through Research in the Seafood Industry

Alberto, how did this project come about?

When I joined Bolton four years ago, I found a company with a strong maturity in sustainability topics and a clear understanding of the role that research and innovation can play in supporting the long-term development of the business. That is where I could contribute.

From the beginning, the focus was on building a more structured and agile approach to research and innovation, also by collaborating with external partners rather than replicating capabilities internally. We started with a phase of scouting and mapping. We soon realised that, especially in Europe, there was limited interaction between the industry and the scientific community, including universities, research centers, and innovation ecosystems such as start-up accelerators. There was a missing link, and we saw the opportunity to position ourselves within this ecosystem and foster collaboration with the academic and research community.

We’ve come a long way from the first research funds we received through the PNRR!

Today, the idea of a more structured approach to research and innovation has taken shape with the establishment of the Center.

We began structuring this project two years ago, and the inauguration event in January marked an important milestone after a long period of work behind the scenes. It brought together representatives from institutions, academia, and the broader ecosystem in Singapore.

And how did you get Singapore in the picture?

We established our presence in Singapore with the support of Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) to take advantage of Singapore's role as a world leader in research and innovation , benefiting from its advanced R&D infrastructure, strong institutional support, and access to a highly skilled talent pool! 

Singapore is also home to globally renowned universities, and has a vibrant research ecosystem with extensive international collaborations.

What were the main challenges or surprises you had to face to get here?

One of the main challenges was broadening our perspective, while maintaining our core FMCG business, we have integrated a more structured scientific approach into our strategy. This includes building a stronger scientific foundation and engaging with multiple institutional stakeholders.

This approach, which may appear more academic at first, is a fundamental enabler for innovation and for contributing to the broader evolution of the industry.

Another key step was setting up a non-profit organisation starting from our business unit, Bolton Food, which is very similar to a corporate foundation in Singapore.

What are the challenges for the future? 

We are focusing on creating real results because, when it comes to research, anyone can do it. But we need to ensure that research activities remain relevant and applicable, which is another matter entirely. Generating knowledge is only one part of the process; understanding how that knowledge can be translated into practical applications requires continuous validation and collaboration.

But think of this: only a portion of the tuna is used for direct consumption, while the rest becomes fishmeal that is worthless although it represents a considerable untapped resource for cosmetic, pharmaceutical and agricultural use, particular in the circular economy. These are significant volumes that can represent huge opportunities. While we will continue to invest in and grow our core can business, we also recognize the importance of unlocking additional value where there is still untapped potential. 

Exploring these opportunities may be less immediate but through research, we can make them tangible and actionable. This is the kind of forward-looking mindset we want to unlock!

Of course, none of this is possible without the team behind the Center: Mei Shan Liew, Open Innovation Senior Manager; Yi Ling Chin, Research Officer; and Janjira Soh, Research Officer, bringing together their expertise across science and innovation.