Unilever announced plans to invest $270 million into a new Global Innovation Center in New Haven, further expanding its U.S. research and development footprint as the company sharpens its focus on personal care, beauty, and wellbeing products.
The new facility, expected to open by spring 2029, will serve as a central global research and development hub for Unilever’s personal care, beauty, and wellbeing businesses. The company said the project builds on nearly $15 billion it has invested in the U.S. market over the past decade through acquisitions and capital projects.
According to Unilever, the center will combine advanced scientific research, AI-powered development tools, and emerging quantum computing capabilities to accelerate product innovation and improve speed to market. Total combined public and private investment connected to the project is expected to exceed $300 million, including approximately $50 million in capital expenditures from Unilever.
The innovation center will house all stages of the research and development process under one roof, including formulation, fragrance creation, packaging design, and consumer insights. Unilever said this integrated approach is designed to accelerate collaboration and streamline product development for its global portfolio of brands.
The company selected New Haven due to its proximity to one of the world’s fastest-growing biosciences ecosystems, providing access to universities, technology partners, scientific talent, and emerging research in neuroscience, microbiome science, and skin biology.
Specific capabilities planned for the center include:
- A global skin care and cleansing innovation hub
- A polycultural skin and hair center of excellence
- A human performance lab focused on physiology and ingestibles testing
- A dedicated Unilever Fragrance House
- A packaging innovation studio using real-time consumer feedback
Approximately 300 employees are expected to work at the new facility. The site will eventually succeed Unilever’s current R&D center in Trumbull, Connecticut, which has operated since 1972.
Herrish Patel, President of Unilever USA and CEO of Personal Care North America, said the new center will strengthen the company’s ability to innovate globally from the U.S.
KEY QUOTES:
“New Haven gets us to the future faster. Our Global Innovation Center is where we’ll innovate at the intersection of science, technology and culture, for the U.S. and for the world. We will build on our deep heritage of innovation to develop the next generation of brands and products that people love. As part of Unilever’s global network of innovation hubs, the center will connect closely with our other leading locations worldwide, sharing technology, insights, and breakthrough ideas to accelerate innovation at scale. As the U.S. becomes a center of gravity for Unilever, we’re harnessing the best of American innovation to match our growth ambition here in the U.S. and around the world.”
Herrish Patel, President of Unilever USA and CEO of Personal Care North America
“Behind every Unilever product is world-leading science that delivers superior performance, combined with design, fragrance and sensory experiences that make our brands distinctive. Our new Global Innovation Center will bring these capabilities together to develop new, category-defining innovations in the U.S., and scale globally. The real shift here is integration and speed: science, design and sensorials working as one, with AI and partnerships accelerating every stage of innovation.”
Richard Slater, Chief Research & Development Officer, Unilever
“Unilever’s decision to make this investment in New Haven reaffirms Connecticut’s global reputation as a leader in innovation, research and development, and discovery. This innovation center will serve as an important foundational piece for this burgeoning hub that will not only strengthen New Haven’s existing tech centers but will also boost our innovation ecosystem statewide. I am glad we have Unilever as a valued member of Connecticut’s growing business community, and I look forward to this company continuing to succeed here for many years to come.”
Ned Lamont, Governor of Connecticut
