Food group Glanbia today opened a innovation centre in Kilkenny.
The company plans to invest €15 million over five years in the centre, which employs 42 research scientists.
This number is set to increase to 52 in October this year when a further 700-square-metre expansion is complete.
Opening the centre, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister Micheál Martin said: "Reform of the Common Agriculture Policy as well as changes at WTO level has led to fundamental shifts in the Irish food sector."
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"The future lies in the development of new and innovative high-value-added health-enhancing food products through the application of science, technology and innovation."