Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the University of California, Davis Innovation Institute for Food & Health (IIFH) today announced a strategic collaboration to advance scientific discovery, technology translation and innovation across food systems and human health.
"Lawrence Livermore's mission has always been to apply cutting-edge science and technology to society's most complex challenges," said Kim Budil, director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. "This collaboration creates new opportunities to combine scientific excellence with entrepreneurship and technology translation. Together, we can build stronger pathways for innovation to reach the people and communities it is intended to serve."
This collaboration represents a new model for innovation. Leveraging the proximity of LLNL, UC Davis and California's technology and venture ecosystem, it aims to create a powerful hub to speed the development of next-generation ingredients, technologies, diagnostics, computational tools and biotechnology platforms that improve food systems and human health.
"The next generation of breakthroughs in food and health will come from intentionally connecting the world's best scientific capabilities," said Justin Siegel, IIFH faculty director and professor of chemistry, biochemistry and molecular medicine at UC Davis. "By combining Lawrence Livermore's unparalleled expertise in advanced science and technology with UC Davis' leadership in food and health, IIFH serves as the catalyst that brings together entrepreneurs, investors and industry partners to turn discoveries into technologies, companies and solutions that improve lives at scale."
LLNL has long tackled complex scientific and technological challenges with its expertise in artificial intelligence, supercomputing, synthetic biology, biosecurity and advanced engineering. Building on UC Davis' leadership in agriculture, food science, sustainability, nutrition and human health, the IIFH has cultivated a translational innovation ecosystem that unites entrepreneurs, investors, food industry leaders and academic collaborators.
The collaboration will launch talent and discovery programs for students and researchers, joint events and convenings and shared scientific and technology development, among other activities. Together, the organizations will create a powerful platform to accelerate the development and commercialization of science-based solutions and technologies that could transform the food and health sector.
