Firmenich has marked its 120th anniversary with the launch of two Next Generation Firmenich programs to advance basic research in the fields of neuroscience and sustainability. The programs have been established at Stanford University in the US and Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland.

“Over the past 120 years, Firmenich reinvented itself era after era while staying true to its entrepreneurial spirit and constantly pursuing breakthroughs in innovation and research,” said Firmenich CEO, Gilbert Ghostine. “The creation of these two ‘Next Generation’ Firmenich programs reconfirms the group’s commitment and deep passion for driving fundamental science to its next frontier in critical areas for society, neurosciences and sustainability.”

The endowed initiative at Stanford will support early-career faculty members working in either field to assist them in research or clinical work, while the chair at EPFL will enable the school to recruit an assistant tenure track professor in neurosciences to strengthen its world-leading neurosciences ecosystem based on its Geneva Campus. In addition, an exchange program in chemical biology will promote collaboration between the two institutions.