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 Entrepreneurship 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 your Master, you will have all the training you need to pursue a career in the food industry. Careers in consumer’s 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.

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

Your future

Health Food Innovation Management graduates will be able to independently develop and implement innovation and entrepreneurial activity at all levels of the food and beverage industry. You'll be able to find positions in the management interface between product development, research and technology. Typical career paths include:

Food industry

Many graduates of Health Food Innovation Management end up working for companies in the food industry, where they, for example, work on product development, give nutritional advice for marketing purposes or check for compliance with food regulations.

Research

Other Health Food Innovation Management graduates end up working on food related research projects, either at universities or at commercial research organisations. They conduct studies into topics such as:

• The effects of pre- pro- and symbiotic in healthy adults and elderly people
• Satiety induction by protein supplements
• Gastrointestinal breakdown of dietary ingredients, and in-vitro screening of the effects of diet-derived intestinal metabolites
• Lifestyle interventions in health food innovation
• Health claim regulation