Due: September 26, 2025

Beverage manufacturers need to understand the parameters that impact product quality during shelf-life stability testing. TechConnect’s global client intends to engage with SMEs able to provide insight and guidance to enhance their stability testing program.

Background

TechConnect’s client, a multi-billion-dollar global beverage company, conducts extensive shelf stability studies on its products to ensure stability and optimal consumer experience. However, this testing requires a substantial time commitment and delays innovation and increases time to market.

To improve the efficiency and efficacy of its shelf-life and stability testing efforts, the client seeks to collaborate with subject matter experts with extensive knowledge of the interrelated parameters of shelf stability including:

• Chemical parameters such as degradation, maturation and oxidation.
• Physical parameters such as precipitation, sedimentation, and separation
• Sensorial parameters such as aroma, color and flavor
• Packaging materials such as bottles, cans and pouches
• Storage conditions such as light exposure, oxygen presence, and temperature

Beverages may include those with dairy or fruit juice content or those with alcohol content between zero and 40%. Additionally, the client’s products are produced and distributed globally in a variety of containers including multi-layer pouches, glass bottles and metalcans.

The client intends to select highly qualified SMEs for consultation with the goal of optimizing their shelf stability testing program. While the focus at present is on consultative engagement, the ability to conduct research on behalf of the client is a bonus.

SMEs from academic labs, contract research firms, and commercial technology providers are all of interest. As the focus of this current project is on expertise, responses focused on technology to monitor or simulate shelf stability are not of interest at this time. Likewise, responses focused on technology to extend shelf life are also out of scope.

The goal of this sprint is to facilitate contact and interactions between the Sprint sponsor and commercial entities (including startups), technology developers or research organization/university in this space.

requirements

Solvers submitting a response are encouraged to highlight capabilities in their submission that meet criteria including:

• Parameter specialization, if any
• Beverage specializations, if any
  • Beverages with dairy ingredients
  • Beverages with fruit juices
  • Beverages with alcohol content
• Experience with shelf stability testing and optimization
• Previous experience
  • Consulting with beverage manufacturers
  • Conducting contract research for a commercial client

Business Opportunity

TechConnect will include all complete and eligible entries in an exclusive innovation opportunity report for our client. Solvers with well-matched capabilities may be contacted directly by either TechConnect or the client to discuss potential partnership opportunities, including but not limited to demonstrations, consulting, contract research, licensing, and more. TechConnect may invite top-rated entries to register or participate in an upcoming event or pitch program.