Innovation in Unilever

Innovation is the engine of Unilever’s growth; the lifeblood of our business. Our future depends on our ability to bring bigger & better innovations to market more quickly than our competitors.

Professor Geneviève Berger

Our R&D leadership

Chief Research & Development Officer, Professor Geneviève Berger, outlines how our R&D teams create unique products with proven benefits for consumers around the world.

Scientist with test tube

Research & development in Unilever

Research & development plays a key role in delivering proprietary breakthrough innovations. At Unilever, R&D is treated as an investment aligned closely with our overall business strategy.

Yellow tracks mark a walkway at the Cisterna R&D centre

The science behind success

The common thread running through all our R&D activities is a direct connection between science, technology and consumer needs.

Control panel a the Cisterna Centre of Excellence, Assembled Foods

Areas of innovation

Unilever is recognised as a world leader in R&D, both in terms of innovation (new products and mixes) and renovation (refreshing existing products).

Employee at the Centre of Excellence, Assembled Foods, in Italy

How we work

We employ more than 6000 R&D professionals in six global research centres, 13 global product development centres and regional development & country implementation centres.

Vegetables being mechanically chopped at a Knorr factory

Responsible innovation

We believe our products make a real contribution to an individual’s wellbeing and that of their community, while having the least possible adverse effect on the environment at every stage in the product lifecycle.