Unilever to consolidate global R&D

13 December 2008

As part of its 'One Unilever' programme, Unilever will consolidate its R&D activities.

The decision to consolidate R&D, is the result of a review in 2006 into Unilever's science and technology capabilities, led by Vindi Banga, president, foods and home and personal care.

The actual review started earlier this year, following the creation of the single category function and the appointment of Geneviève Berger as Unilever's chief R&D officer.

Unilever will combine the three global R&D operations (foods R&D, HPC R&D and corporate research) into one Unilever R&D organisation and s aimed at increasing its efficiency, simplicity and focus in R&D.

Through the intended changes, Unilever will be able to deliver an integrated R&D programme, reduce overlap in activities between sites and increase the speed and impact of innovations.

For research, led by chief R&D officer, Geneviève Berger, Unilever has chosen six strategic sites - Vlaardingen, in South Holland in the Netherlands, Port Sunlight and Colworth in the UK, Trumbull in the US, Bangalore and Shanghai - from which it plans to pool its global expertise base to deliver an integrated research programme, together with external collaborators in a strong open innovation programme.