NIB funds Chr. Hansen’s bioscience innovation programme

NIB and Chr. Hansen Holding A/S have agreed on a seven-year loan agreement for EUR 40 million to finance the company’s research and development activities during their financial year 2018–2019.

Chr. Hansen’s 2018–2019 R&D programme focuses on bioscience innovations connected to the production of food culture, enzymes, probiotics and natural colours as well as increasing strain knowledge on microbial strains.

With 30,000 microbial strains, Chr. Hansen has one of the world’s largest commercial collections of bacteria. The investment in R&D will enhance the company’s position as a front runner in dairy ingredients.

The bioscience industry is a very innovative and R&D intensive and has a key position when it comes to global challenges in human health and food security. Innovations are driven by megatrends, such as the growing global population and the need for industrial food, resource scarcity and the necessity to improve productivity in food production. The NIB loan will assist the company to address these challenges by enabling better farming, reducing food waste and improving health with their core products.

Bioscience jobs require a highly skilled workforce. Over 90 percent of Chr. Hansen’s R&D activities are concentrated in Denmark. The company works actively with universities and research institutes on innovative projects.

“Chr. Hansen is an important player in the Danish food technology sector. Therefore, the spillover effects of this R&D programme are very likely to contribute to strain-specific knowledge that will strengthen the whole sector and offer growth opportunities”, says Henrik Normann, NIB President & CEO.

Founded in 1874, Chr. Hansen A/S develops and produces cultures, enzymes, probiotics and natural colours for a rich variety of foods, confectionery, beverages, dietary supplements and even animal feed and plant protection. The company has 3,150 employees in over 30 countries.

NIB is an international financial institution owned by eight member countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. The Bank finances private and public projects in and outside the member countries. NIB has the highest possible credit rating, AAA/Aaa, with the leading rating agencies Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s.

For further information, please contact
Vagn Lundhøj, Senior Manager, Origination, at +358 10 618 0370, vagn.lundhoj@nib.int

Niina Rantti, Communications Officer, at +358 10 618 0265, niina.rantti@nib.int