Heineken invests €45 million in R&D centre in the Netherlands

International brewer Heineken is investing €45 million in the construction of the Dr H.P. Heineken Centre, a new research and development (R&D) centre in Zoeterwoude, in the Netherlands. The R&D centre will focus on improving existing products and processes as well as developing new products.

Named after doctor of chemistry Dr Henry Pierre Heineken (1886–1971), the centre covers an area of 8800 m² and will employ staff from 12 countries to work on innovation within global brands such as Heineken, Desperados and Amstel. The facility will include offices, laboratories, a model service centre, and sensory research and packaging development departments. It will also play a leading role within Heineken’s global R&D network, which includes hubs in Mexico, South Africa and South-East Asia.

“As the beating heart within our Global R&D network, this Centre opens new possibilities to optimise flavours and processes and to bring innovative products to market. This is a crucial milestone in realising our ‘Brew a Better World 2030’ strategy, through which Heineken raises the bar and enables faster progress towards a net zero, and a fairer, healthier world,” said Dolf van den Brink, Chairman of the Executive Board/CEO at Heineken.

The location of Zoeterwoude was strategically chosen for the centre due to its proximity to Heineken’s large brewery and the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). Some of Heineken’s previous innovations developed in Zoeterwoude include Heineken 0.0, the Draught Keg and the horizontal fermentation system that creates its beer flavour. It is also where the brewer is already working on sustainability initiatives, such as installing a large-scale e-boiler.

The collaboration with the TU Delft, where the brewer has established a dedicated laboratory and invests in biotechnological research, will further strengthen the new facility, providing opportunities for master’s and PhD students to contribute to innovative projects.

Jack Pronk, professor and head of the Biotechnology Department at Delft University of Technology, said the centre provides possibilities to further the development of biotechnology-based innovations in brewing.

“Biotechnology has an immense potential to address global challenges and to make our future society more sustainable. Our staff and students are eager to contribute to this mission through cutting-edge fermentation research at the interface of academia and industry,” Pronk said.

Opening in mid-2025, the global R&D centre is designed to play a crucial role in Heineken’s innovation and growth strategy.