diff --git a/R-minimal/Dockerfile b/R-minimal/Dockerfile
index 77f2945..f5fc4c1 100644
--- a/R-minimal/Dockerfile
+++ b/R-minimal/Dockerfile
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 FROM renku/singleuser-r:0.4.1-renku0.7.1
 
 # Uncomment and adapt if code is to be included in the image
 # COPY src /code/src
 
+# install the R dependencies
+COPY install.R /tmp/
+RUN R -f /tmp/install.R
+
 # install the python dependencies
 COPY requirements.txt /tmp/
 RUN pip3 install -r /tmp/requirements.txt
diff --git a/R-minimal/install.R b/R-minimal/install.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29