The cutting-edge R&D driving product innovations and growth

The cutting-edge R&D driving product innovations and growth

• Every day, 3.4 billion people around the world use our products - each one is developed using world-class R&D
• We invested €949 million in our R&D in 2023 and have 20,500+ patents protecting our ideas
• We have 5,000+ R&D experts working for us across the world, including 500+ PhDs

Every new product innovation begins by discovering a consumer pain point that needs a solution.

At Unilever R&D, our world-leading scientists find answers to these problems and turn them into products consumers want to buy. And in 2023 alone, new product innovations developed by our experts added €1.8 billion to our turnover.

From laundry detergents that perform in short wash cycles to hair care ranges that get to the root of damage and bring back shine, we're innovating for growth. Read on to discover how.

Using AI-driven R&D to accelerate discovery

New tools such as AI are revolutionising the process and speed at which our experts make new discoveries. Scientists can now map millions of enzyme and molecule combinations. This will help us develop new solutions that otherwise would have taken decades to research.

AI is also used to test the efficacy of products in different scenarios and conditions. And it can streamline our manufacturing by creating processes that can be replicated in our factories globally at scale.

Robotic excellence at the Materials Innovation Factory

The Materials Innovation Factory (MIF), co-founded by Unilever, the University of Liverpool and Research England, has the highest concentration of robots doing materials chemistry in the world. They dial up data learnings, maintain test consistency and work 24/7.

Recently, MIF's robots helped us develop our new laundry detergent, Persil Wonder Wash, which uses a unique combination of enzymes in a patent-pending Pro-S technology.

Persil Wonder Wash not only works to clean stains and remove odours in wash cycles as short as 15 minutes, it also leaves less product residue and delivers on fragrance.

To test these laundry-cleaning capabilities in the discovery phase, robots at the MIF operated round the clock, carrying out tests that usually take weeks to complete.

The robots can be programmed to mimic cycles from different top and front-loading washing machines used around the world, customising water types, temperatures and types of cycle.

The data provided by these tests is invaluable. Using computational science, we're able to rapidly change variables, which helps us to predict how well a product will perform.

"Using robots allows us to maintain consistency across sampling and testing, ensuring the data we share with our colleagues across the world is of the highest quality," says Home Care R&D's Head of Innovation Keith Rutherford.

"We're also freeing up time for our scientists, which provides room for them to be creative, to experiment and invent, rather than taking on repetitive jobs.

"This is all helping us to bring new innovations to market at a pace previously unimaginable. We're responding to consumer needs, faster and better than ever before."

Testing and developing user experiences at our Product Innovation Lab

Newly opened in 2023, the Product Innovation Lab in Port Sunlight transforms science and technology into superior products.

In hair care, for example, an increase in styling is driving consumer demand for products that protect and repair damaged hair.

"To meet these needs, we developed technologies that work on and inside hair fibres to repair damage," says Beauty & Wellbeing R&D's Head of Hair Care, Glyn Roberts.

"We started by exploring the hair's natural armour which are the cuticles on the outside. These cuticles have an oil on their surface that acts as a natural conditioner. When hair is damaged, the oil is lost," explains Glyn. "And without this protective layer, hair treatments such as bleach, UV rays from strong sunlight, even hair washing, can damage the inner proteins that give hair its strength."

Our Smart Fibre Shield and Fibre Active Technologies, which are protected by 11 patents, work to protect hair by precisely targeting and repairing the most damaged part of the hair on both its inside and outside.

"They do this by delivering product to the most damaged parts of the hair surface, penetrating and reconstructing damaged inner hair fibres and providing smoothness and detangling during the wash," says Glyn.

These technologies are now incorporated into Dove's Intensive Repair Technology range which includes a shampoo, conditioner and mask.

"The products are designed to progressively build up the hair's natural resilience which helps to protect against future damage and leaves hair looking smooth and nourished," he adds.

Prototyping at the Advanced Manufacturing Centre

Every formulation developed in our laboratories in Port Sunlight comes to the Advanced Manufacturing Centre to be turned into a 'factory-ready' innovation.

It has a wide range of sophisticated manufacturing equipment designed to replicate our many production processes across the world. At the centre we evaluate everything from product quality and process efficiency to packaging line design.

"Equipment has advanced sensors built in that allow our engineers to develop digital twins of our production processes," explains Process Development Engineering Manager Julian Clarke.

Every trial is recorded. "Analysing this huge body of data using tools such as AI and machine learning enables us to create optimised and customised process recipes for our factories around the world," he adds. "And that means we can produce great products, at every location, every time."

Future-proofing R&D innovation

Our products are used by 3.4 billion people every day. None of this would be possible without the R&D experts who work at sites like the MIF and Port Sunlight to deliver the best products for consumers.

By pairing their skills and knowledge with a world-leading, digitally enabled R&D ecosystem, the impact of our innovations has never been greater.

To find out more about innovation at Unilever, watch Tech Transformers on CNBC.

• Science & Innovation