Nestlé Health Science opened its new Nestlé Product Technology Center in Bridgewater on Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that wrapped up a three-year, $70 million project.

The new center will serve as the lead Project Technology Center for Nestlé Health Science globally, the company said in a news release, serving as a global research and development hub for the nutrition business and more.

“The opening of the Nestlé Product Technology Center comes at an exciting time, when the potential for science-based nutritional solutions is accelerating,” Thomas Hauser, senior vice president and head of global product and technology development for Nestlé, said in a prepared statement. “With this advanced center leading the way, we’re able to leverage Nestlé’s global R&D efforts here in New Jersey to rapidly translate science into innovation for consumers, patients and health care professionals.

“We’re also advantaged by the fact that the facility is co-located with the U.S. headquarters of Nestlé Health Science, allowing for deep integration between the R&D and commercial sides of the business in our largest market.”

The Bridgewater facility hosts more than 170 employees in R&D, ranging from rapid prototyping to efforts to reduce packaging, as Nestlé aims to make 100 percent of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.

“Nestlé’s presence in New Jersey is a reflection of our shared commitment to leading the way on innovation and sustainability,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement. “Their investment here is proof that fostering a stronger, fairer economy provides more growth, not less.”

The center became fully operational in August, the company said.

“At Nestlé Health Science, our growth strategy is driven by continuing to meet the needs of a diverse set of consumers and patients, aligned with market trends,” Greg Behar, CEO of Nestlé Health Science, said in a statement. “This requires agility, faster speed-to-market and greater collaboration as we evolve our core portfolio of products in areas like healthy aging, diabetes and pediatrics, but also as we develop new, valuable nutritional solutions in oncology, food allergies and gut health, among others.

“We are already seeing the benefits of uniting our R&D and commercial teams in one location, and we are excited about the future as we seek to change the course of health for people and patients in the U.S. and around the world.”

Nestlé Health Science is a unit of Nestlé S.A. that is headquartered in Switzerland and employs about 4,400 people worldwide.

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