Unilever will invest €35 million to build an innovation ecosystem across its research and development (R&D) hubs in Mumbai and Bengaluru.
The global fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company also plans to launch a strategic Bio-Futures partnership in India. The investment aims to strengthen scientific research, product development and technology-led innovation.
The new investment comes on top of more than €20 million that Unilever has invested over the past five years. The earlier investments supported facilities and capabilities such as its Liquids Lab of the Future, Unilever Fragrance House, Advanced Manufacturing Center for Bars, Packaging and Flexibles Design Lab, and artificial intelligence (AI) and digital modeling platforms.
Both Indian R&D hubs are part of Unilever's global R&D network. They support activities ranging from consumer research and product adaptation to testing, validation, scale-up and market deployment.
India is among Unilever's largest global R&D hubs, with more than 800 scientists, researchers, digital specialists and designers.
As part of the transformation, Unilever plans to develop its Mumbai facility into a new Product Innovation Centre. The center will bring several research, design and product development capabilities together in one integrated environment.
These capabilities will include:
The Mumbai hub will also strengthen collaboration with academic institutions, scientific experts, suppliers, start-ups and the wider design ecosystem.
Richard Slater, Chief Research and Development Officer at Unilever, said India plays a critical role in the company's global R&D operations.
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He said the investment would connect science, consumer insights, design, digital technology and AI with rapid prototyping and scale-up capabilities. This approach is expected to help Unilever develop new Bio-Futures innovations for Indian and global markets.
The company also plans to invest €5 million over five years in its strategic Bio-Futures partnership in India.
The platform will connect Unilever's global R&D capabilities with India's growing bioscience ecosystem. It will bring together scientific institutions, start-ups, advanced infrastructure and talent.
The partnership will focus on five key areas:
While Mumbai will focus on integrated product innovation, Bengaluru will continue to develop as a global science, technology and partnership hub.
The facility will support foundational and application science platforms, digital and AI capabilities, India foods R&D, and collaborations with academic institutions and start-ups. It will also strengthen connections with Unilever's global innovation network.
Priya Nair, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hindustan Unilever, said India's emergence as a global innovation hub presents significant opportunities for the company.
She highlighted India's scientific talent, research capabilities and growing position in biosciences and biomanufacturing. She added that the investment reflects Unilever R&D's long-term commitment to the country.
Across both facilities, AI and predictive modelling will help scientists and product developers explore more possibilities. These technologies are expected to accelerate research, improve learning and turn promising ideas into scalable products more quickly.
Through this investment, Unilever aims to strengthen India's role in its global innovation network while expanding its access to the country's growing scientific and biotechnology capabilities.
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