09 Sep State officials hail establishment of Kikkoman R&D Lab
Madison, Wis. – Gov. Jim Doyle and Kikkoman Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Yuzaburo Mogi today marked the establishment of Kikkoman USA’s new research and development laboratory in University Research Park. They were joined by a host of state and local officials, including University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin, University Research Park Director Mark Bugher, and Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz.
The laboratory, which will join Kikkoman’s global research and development network, will foster increased collaboration between the company and University of Wisconsin-Madison food science researchers. The joint research will focus on the flavor, functionality and fortification of food products. Kikkoman and its University of Wisconsin-Madison research partners also will be exploring how these and other factors can provide healthier food with greater benefits to consumers.
“Kikkoman and the state of Wisconsin have enjoyed a long, productive relationship,” Mr. Mogi said. “We are delighted to commemorate the extension of our great relationship with the establishment of this research and development laboratory. By working together with food science researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one of the country’s premier academic research institutions, we expect to develop exciting new products that will allow Kikkoman to better serve customers in the United States, our most important international market.”
Kikkoman in June celebrated the 35th anniversary of the opening of its soy sauce production facility in Walworth, Wis. The facility was the first for the company outside of Japan.
“For 35 years, Kikkoman has proven not only its commitment to an excellent product, but a commitment to its workers and its environment,” Gov. Doyle said. “I am pleased to continue this great relationship with Kikkoman through this new collaboration to be housed at University Research Park. This facility will benefit Kikkoman, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the entire state of Wisconsin.”
Kikkoman’s new research and development facility will occupy a wet laboratory suite in University Research Park’s MGE Innovation Center. The center is the hub of the research park, which employs nearly 4,200 and contributes more than $680 million to the region each year.
“The research collaboration between Kikkoman and UW researchers is precisely the kind of university-private sector partnership we hope to foster at University Research Park,” Mr. Bugher said. “We are delighted that Kikkoman will join our other world-class tenants in the MGE Innovation Center. We look forward to working with Kikkoman, like we do with all our tenants, to ensure that its unique research needs are met in its lab space in University Research Park.”
Bugher said he expects Kikkoman to occupy its new laboratory space in early 2009.
About University Research Park
University Research Park, established in 1984 and located three miles west of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, is home to more than 100 companies that employ over 4,000 people. It contributes more than $680 million each year to the state’s economy. The non-profit, internationally recognized research and technology park has 35 buildings with more than 1.5 million square feet of office and laboratory space used by a broad range of start-up companies, many of which are focused on biotechnology.