Unilever announced plans to invest $270 million in a new Global Innovation Center in New Haven, Connecticut, with the facility expected to open by spring 2029. The center will serve as a major research and development hub for the company’s personal care, beauty, and wellbeing businesses in both the United States and international markets.
The investment supports Unilever’s strategy to become a more focused personal care, beauty, and wellbeing company while strengthening its long-term commitment to the U.S. market. The company said the project builds on nearly $15 billion it has invested in the United States over the past decade through acquisitions and capital projects.
Located within New Haven’s growing biosciences ecosystem, the digital-first and AI-powered facility will bring together all stages of the innovation process under one roof, including formulation, fragrance development, packaging design, and consumer insights. The company believes this integrated approach will accelerate product development and help bring new products to market faster.
Unilever said the center will leverage artificial intelligence and emerging quantum computing capabilities to support advanced materials discovery and innovation. The facility will also strengthen partnerships with universities, technology companies, and research institutions while providing access to leading scientific talent.
The new center will house several specialized capabilities, including a global center for skin care and cleansing, a polycultural skin and hair center of excellence, a human performance lab focused on wellbeing products, the Unilever Fragrance House, and a packaging innovation studio. These capabilities are intended to support the development of next-generation products across the company’s portfolio.
Approximately 300 employees will work at the new center, which will replace Unilever’s existing research and development facility in Trumbull, Connecticut, that has operated since 1972.
According to the company, total combined public and private investment associated with the project is expected to exceed $300 million.
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, Unilever USA and CEO, 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, Connecticut
