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Unilever Invests $270 Million in AI-Powered Global Innovation Center in Connecticut
Unilever is building a $270 million Global Innovation Center in New Haven, Connecticut, set to open in spring 2029. The facility will use AI, bioscience, and neuroscience to accelerate product development.
Unilever has announced plans for a new Global Innovation Center in New Haven, Connecticut, with a $270 million investment. The center is expected to open in spring 2029 and will replace the company's existing regional R&D location in Trumbull, Connecticut.
The facility will be powered by artificial intelligence and focus on bioscience and neuroscience research. Unilever said New Haven's growing scientific ecosystem and proximity to top universities were key factors in the decision.
Over the past decade, Unilever has invested nearly $15 billion in its US market. The new center is part of the company's strategy to become an AI-first organization, integrating science, design, and sensory research.
"The real shift here is integration and speed: science, design, and sensorials working as one, with AI and partnerships accelerating every stage of innovation," said Richard Slater, Unilever's chief R&D officer.
Unilever currently operates six global R&D innovation centers and 12 regional hubs worldwide. The New Haven site will serve as a global hub for category-defining innovations that can scale internationally.