Innovation is at the heart of everything we do within Research and Development at Unilever.
With more than 4,500 scientific and technical experts, including over 500 PhDs, Unilever’s R&D organisation powers the products and innovation behind our 30 Power Brands that are trusted across the globe. Combining world-leading science, pioneering talent and advanced digital technologies, we rapidly turn consumer insights into innovations that delight consumers and grow our business. From breakthrough ingredients that deliver superior performance to sensorial experiences and packaging that delight, R&D fuels Desire at Scale across our brands.
Our teams push the boundaries of science in cutting-edge fields such as the microbiome, biotechnology and digital product design. R&D is central to Unilever’s strategy: applying the latest science and technology to create scalable innovations that drive category growth and market development.
In 2025, R&D investment totalled €836 million, reflecting the exclusion of the Ice Cream business following its demerger. In the prior two years, investment was €949 million (2023) and €987 million (2024), including Ice Cream. With a portfolio of more than 16,500 active patents, new technologies and ingredients continue to strengthen performance and deepen consumer preference. Our global R&D centres – strategically located in the most dynamic markets, including the US and India – bring our scientists close to the consumer, top external partners and our priority businesses.
Digital tools are opening a new era of scientific discovery. Using advanced computing power and AI, we can compress decades of lab work into days, generating insights previously unimaginable. By mapping, modelling and experimenting virtually, we design and simulate every step of the innovation process before scaling for manufacturing. This leap forward – powered by AI, virtual simulation, our proprietary data and a century of scientific expertise – ensures our teams are leading the industry in the next generation of product innovation.
€836m Overall investment
4,500 Experts
500+ PhDs
16,500+ Patents
6 Global R&D Innovation Centres
12 Regional R&D Hubs
€1.8bn Incremental turnover from innovation
Translating scientific discoveries into new products
Working with partners to accelerate scientific discovery.
"At Unilever, we’re dedicated to crafting superior products that don’t just meet the daily needs of our 3.7 billion consumers worldwide but also make a meaningful difference in their lives – all while being good to our planet.
With our cutting-edge science capabilities and global teams, we’re leaders in innovation, harnessing digital tools to accelerate groundbreaking discoveries."
