From doing innovative things to being an innovator

Innovation and transformation

For Elke, being an innovator is about constantly pushing boundaries, redefining industries and setting the pace for the future. “Innovation isn’t just developing new products or standalone investments; it’s about looking for new opportunities. It requires significant structural transformation, from integrating new expertise to connecting the dots between departments, and more, including:

• Investment in science and R&D internally and market knowledge externally
• An open connection between fundamental science and demand- and opportunity-driven customers
• A future-facing innovation mindset that drives change, rather than responding to it

We've taken the principles of innovation beyond our Science and Innovation (S&I) team; today, every department, from Finance to Quality Assurance, understands how innovation can help us move further.”

Going beyond the known with Nextida

“A prime example of this is Rousselot’s launch of Nextida^®: our platform of specific collagen peptide compositions for targeted health benefits that go beyond those usually associated with collagen. Bringing Nextida to life required a solid scientific foundation. On one hand, we built on fundamental research as we delved deeper than anyone into the collagen molecule. On the other, we aligned with market and consumer analysis, market shifts, behavioral studies, regulatory awareness and more.”

“Our journey with Nextida reflects our story as an innovation-led company. It started out with a simple question: ‘Can we link specific collagen compositions to targeted health benefits?’ That evolved into a long-term project. Over time, as expertise was built and scientific knowledge deepened, we came closer to a tangible product, moving from a concept to a near-term reality. Now, Nextida represents the very heart of our innovation strategy. The expertise behind all of this has become our X factor, something that’s incredibly difficult for others to copy.”

“The first product launched from the platform is Nextida GC, which naturally targets post-meal glucose spikes. In a recent proof-of-concept study, it was found to increase GLP-1 secretion in a healthy population when consumed 30 minutes before a meal (Grasset et al., 2024). It’s opening the door to new dimensions of health for consumers, while tapping into the blood sugar management trend. And this is just the beginning. We have a pipeline of new products on the way, each designed for very specific health benefits, target audiences and even business models. We want to redefine what’s possible with collagen.”

An investment, not a cost

For Elke, innovation is an investment that calls for balancing short-term and long-term returns on investment (ROI). “As a scientist, I know that innovation can be a long-term project and that managing expectations is key. While investing without a guaranteed outcome can feel scary, the question is, ‘What type of company do we want to be?’ To be a global market leader, we need to invest in long- and short-term innovation, and that’s exactly what we do.

We must optimize future returns, while today’s speed of change means we also need short-term impact. The world is changing fast, but you can’t rush science. The key is having the right balance: supporting existing business needs while laying the groundwork for future opportunities. Our team has mastered this balance. Whether they’re working on incremental improvements, co-developing solutions with customers, or pioneering entirely new applications, we apply our expertise on the very cutting edge of short- and long-term needs.”

Innovating with AI

While some innovations can take years to mature, others, like Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications, are already reshaping the way we work today. Elke notes AI’s pivotal role in several areas for Rousselot:

• Predictive maintenance in production, reducing downtime and optimizing efficiency
• Advanced peptide composition modeling in R&D, accelerating scientific discovery
• Market intelligence, building artificial consumer personas, predicting how different demographics might engage with collagen-based products

“AI is not replacing human expertise; it’s amplifying it,” she comments. “It accelerates our ability to make data-driven decisions and deliver real impact faster.”

Collaboration is key for innovation

One essential building block for becoming an innovation-led business is the ability and the drive to collaborate. “No company innovates in isolation. Our approach is built on partnerships: with research institutions to expand scientific knowledge, with marketing strategists to translate insights into action, and with startups and med-tech companies to drive breakthroughs in biomedical applications.”

“In the biomedical space, collaboration with startups is especially critical. Often, we find that startups can be both partner and customer, as we work with them to combine cutting-edge solutions and products for market differentiation. We see ourselves as a key enabler in the ecosystem, facilitating breakthroughs that add value across the entire value chain. True innovation arises when different players combine their unique strengths. Collaboration like that, across industries, disciplines and expertise levels, is the only way to achieve meaningful progress.”

Looking ahead

Elke is confident that Rousselot will continue expanding the Nextida platform, developing new collagen-based applications. “As innovators, we are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in Health & Nutrition, Functional Ingredients and Biomedical fields, while educating the market on how our solutions can support health. This is a key part of our mission to deliver real value to consumers and enhance their well-being.”

“At Rousselot, we don’t accept the status quo. We’re constantly looking for more value—for the consumer, the customer and the company. That’s because innovation isn’t just a project; it’s at the core of who we are.”

Learn more about Rousselot’s approach to science and innovation, or explore more insights from our team.