Global Innovation Center
Courtesy of Unilever
Unilever is planning to construct a global innovation center in New Haven, Conn., to drive expansion in the U.S. market. Focusing on beauty, personal care, and wellbeing brands, the 200,000-sf facility will be fully AI powered and leverage the latest technologies including quantum computing and machine learning to accelerate the scaling of product development. The dynamic building will feature a human performance lab aimed at generating new data and insights into human physiology, as well as venues for the testing of ingestibles such as vitamins, minerals, and health supplements.
Specialized environments dedicated to the formulation of hair and skin products will be augmented by a fragrance house. A packaging innovation studio will incorporate real-time consumer feedback to fast-track the prototyping process. Fostering synergies to catalyze breakthroughs and the discovery of advanced materials, the collaborative hub will enable the end-to-end integration of all research and development capabilities under one roof.
The project represents a long-term investment of $270 million, including a $50 million capital expenditure. Unilever will occupy an estimated footprint of 100,000 sf across the four-story structure. QuantumCT will also rent space in the development, which will enhance partnerships through access to New Haven’s diverse ecosystem of academia, research institutions, and biosciences and technology companies. Construction is slated to begin in late 2026 and occupancy is anticipated in spring of 2029.
