Unilever China R&D Centre Marks 30 Years with New AI Innovation Strategy

Shanghai, 15 October 2026. Unilever celebrated the 30th anniversary of its China Research and Development Centre with an Innovation Open Day in Shanghai, unveiling its new AI for SASSY Innovation strategy and showcasing technological advances across beauty and personal care, home care, food, and wellbeing.

happi China, published by Ringier Trade Media, attended the event, which highlighted China's growing role in Unilever's global innovation network and the company's expanding use of artificial intelligence in product development.

Three Decades of R&D in China

Established in Shanghai in 1996, the centre is one of Unilever's six global R&D hubs. It has evolved into a facility supporting end-to-end innovation for international markets.

Today, the centre employs nearly 300 scientists and holds more than 2,000 active patents, with research spanning chemistry, life sciences, materials science, computational biology, and AI-driven scientific discovery.

Several technologies developed by the Chinese research team have reached global markets. These include ceramide-related technology used in Vaseline's Snow Melt Cream range, the patented NR5 technology incorporated into REGENERATE toothpaste, and naturally derived sugar-based fragrance bead technology for laundry care.

The facility also houses an AI Hub, an automated formulation laboratory known as Robolab, packaging and fragrance co-creation centres, and laboratories supporting microbiology, analytical testing, and industrial scale-up.

AI for SASSY Innovation Takes Centre Stage

The centrepiece of the anniversary event was the launch of AI for SASSY Innovation, a strategy built around five dimensions: Superior Science, Aesthetics, Sensorials, Said by Others, and Young Spirited.

Four AI application areas underpin the strategy.

1. AI for Science supports molecular discovery, ingredient screening, efficacy prediction, and safety assessment. Unilever has developed six specialised AI models covering applications including preservative screening, active ingredient discovery, sensitive skin prediction, and oral irritation assessment. According to the company, its AI-assisted screening programmes have achieved a 24.5% hit rate in preservative screening and 30% to 60% in active ingredient screening, reducing certain molecular discovery timelines from years to months. The upgraded AI for Science 2.0 platform introduces AI research agents capable of integrating literature searches, specialised models, and scientific data analysis.

2. AI for Packaging combines generative design, 3D rendering, engineering simulation, and rapid prototyping. Supported by augmented and mixed reality technologies, the platform allows teams to evaluate packaging concepts before physical production. Unilever reports that these capabilities have reduced packaging development time by 50% and increased creative output efficiency tenfold.

3. AI for Agile Innovation connects consumer insights with product developme.

4. AI for Science Communication helps translate complex scientific information into accessible content, subject to scientific review. Together, these applications illustrate how Unilever is integrating AI across its R&D operations.

Product Innovation Across Beauty and Personal Care

The Innovation Open Day also featured new products across Unilever's brand portfolio.

In body care, Vaseline introduced Snow White Cream, featuring patented technology designed to combine skin barrier repair with brightening benefits. Lux showcased its first whitening-certified body wash, incorporating brightening actives and proprietary delivery technology to address growing consumer interest in functional body cleansing.

In fabric care, Comfort presented its fragrance-focused laundry care product, combining microencapsulation technology for prolonged fragrance release with fabric conditioning benefits.

Unilever also highlighted innovations from its premium skincare brands, including Dermalogica, Paula's Choice, and Murad, alongside wellbeing brands OLLY, Liquid I.V., and Nutrafol.

China's Expanding Role in Global Innovation

Speaking at the event, Unilever Greater China President Chen Ge emphasised China's importance as both a consumer market and a source of innovation for the company's global business.

Shen Jun, Vice President of Unilever China R&D Centre, outlined plans to strengthen collaboration with China's research institutions and industrial partners while accelerating the international application of locally developed technologies.

The anniversary highlighted a broader shift in consumer goods innovation, with AI increasingly supporting ingredient identification, formulation research, packaging engineering, and consumer insight analysis.

For beauty and personal care manufacturers, Unilever's experience offers a practical example of how digital tools can be integrated into established R&D infrastructure, while experimental validation, formulation compatibility, and manufacturing feasibility remain essential to successful product development.

Reporting: John Xie, happi China, RIngier Trade Media