Unilever Puts 35 Million Euros Into India R&D Push

Unilever is investing 35 million euros in its Mumbai and Bangalore research and development centers to speed up development of what the company calls "next-generation" products.

The Anglo-Dutch consumer goods group said the money will unite capabilities spanning consumer insight, scientific discovery, prototyping and scale-up "in one connected environment." The stated goal: transform "world-class science into superior innovation at greater speed."

Richard Slater, Unilever's chief research and development officer, said the 35 million euros is earmarked for specific projects, including:

• Liquids Lab of the Future
• The Unilever Fragrance House
• An Advanced Manufacturing Center for soap bars
• A Packaging and Flexibles Design Lab
• AI and digital modeling platforms

Slater added that Unilever has already spent more than 20 million euros over the past five years building these capabilities.

What changes in Mumbai and Bangalore?

Under the plan, Mumbai becomes a product innovation center combining "consumer insights, new measurement approaches, product and format science, packaging design, rapid prototyping and scale-up capabilities," according to Unilever.

Bangalore keeps evolving as a global science, technology and partnership hub. That site will house application and foundational science, digital capabilities and India Foods R&D.

Within the 35-million-euro envelope, Unilever is setting aside 5 million euros over the next five years for a strategic Bio-Futures Partnership. The program targets innovation across human biology, microbiome science, biotechnology and bio-manufacturing.

How central is AI to the plan?

Across both Indian sites, Unilever plans to deploy AI, automated experimentation, predictive modeling and digital twins. According to the company, these tools "will enable the Unilever scientists and product developers to explore more possibilities, learn faster and translate promising ideas into scalable innovations with greater speed and precision."

That positions India as a testing ground for machine-assisted product development, not just a regional manufacturing base.

Why India, and why now?

Slater said India already plays a central role in Unilever's global innovation network. The new investment, he said, "will further strengthen its position as one of our largest R&D hubs."

India is also one of Unilever's most important growth markets, "and it's changing fast," Slater said. "Consumer expectations are rising, needs are evolving and the pace of innovation keeps on accelerating. That makes it an incredibly important place for us to learn, create and scale new ideas."

The 35-million-euro commitment follows more than 20 million euros of prior spending, bringing Unilever's disclosed investment in the two Indian sites to over 55 million euros in roughly five years — a signal that product development for emerging-market beauty and personal care consumers will increasingly be designed in India rather than adapted for it.