January 12/Harrisburg, Pa./Airline Industry Information -- Private educational institution Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and chocolate producer The Hershey Company announced the joint development of a sensory science and consumer research program at the school's campus in downtown Harrisburg, Pa.

A research laboratory will be created for the university to conduct consumer taste tests on a variety of confectionery products to guide product development efforts and is aligned with the university's objective of creating programs that meet the educational needs of youth and create economic opportunities in the region as well, said the companies.

Additionally, Hershey will grant $90,000 to the university to equip the new research laboratory and cover other start-up costs for the first two years of the program, and the lab will be completed in February, the university said, where its staff and students will conduct the research in close collaboration with Hershey's research staff.

The results will be integrated with sensory testing conducted at Hershey's Technical Center in Hershey, Pa., where professional sensory panels and employee panels provide feedback that guides ongoing new product development.

From the January 24, 2011, Prepared Foods E-dition