Are you interested in developing new food and nutrition solutions to optimise health and prevent and treat disease? Would you like to know how a health food product goes from being just an idea to being launched in the market? And would you like to be involved in creating commercially viable foods that are both tasty and healthy? Then Health Food Innovation Management could be just the programme for you.

The programme focusses on the process of innovation in the food and beverage industry by integrating four key disciplines; in depth understanding of Nutrition and Health, Consumer Sciences, Business and Entrepeneurship and Food Law in the perspective of health food innovation will be taught. You will learn how you can use your background in health and nutrition to develop new, commercially viable, healthy food products.

Once you complete this master's programme, you will have all the training you need to pursue a career in the food industry. Careers in consumers education, non-governmental organisations and in academic food, nutrition and health research will also be open to you. The study programme is taught at the Maastricht University satellite location Campus Venlo, with visits to international trade exhibitions and site visits to relevant companies integrated in the curriculum.

Why this programme?

Today, poor diet choices, often in combination with an inactive lifestyle, are known to be associated with a variety of chronic diseases, such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

Nutritional health care has become an important driver for innovation in the food and beverage industry. In Health Food Innovation Management, you'll study the process of innovation in this sector, with a specific focus on developing healthy foods. You'll learn how to use nutritional health science to develop new products and marketing concepts. 

Multidisciplinary curriculum:

The Master of Science in Health Food Innovation Management is a unique programme, the only one of its kind in the world.

The multidisciplinary curriculum is specifically tailored to the professional demands of employers in the food industry. You’ll take courses on topics such as biomedical sciences and nutrition, food regulation, consumer behaviour, entrepreneurship, business and marketing. By combining elements from business and management with food innovation and health science, we’re able to provide you with an education that will give you the best possible preparation for your future career.

The programme is centred on four main topics:

• biomedical sciences, addressing the impact of nutrition components on health and disease prevention,
• consumer research into the areas of health concerns, disease risks and benefit communications,
• new technologies of ingredient extraction, modification and processing impacting on product application opportunities,
• food regulatory/law developments, health benefit claim possibilities.

Bringing the world into your classroom:

At Maastricht University, we have close ties to the food industry and food research institutes. We carry out research projects with them and regularly invite our connections to give lectures.

You’ll have guest lectures from specialists at various European institutes as well as industry players such as Unilever, Friesland Campina and DANONE. You’ll also get to visit food fairs, the European Commission and food research institutes such as NIZO Food Research, TNO and Dutch Bakery Centre NBC. This means you'll be up to date on the latest developments in this field. These resources may also be valuable to you when you are writing your thesis, or when you are trying to find a job after you graduate.