Openness is the key to successful innovation. We invest in much more than just our internal innovation potential to facilitate the development of promising innovations in our business units. We rely on open collaboration and open innovation – cooperating with external partners such as start-ups or other partners from our ecosystem to develop and drive ideas forward together, to inspire each other, and to provide mutual support. Our incubator teams and tech & digital innovation hubs help us to achieve this, coupled with our expertise in the field of venture capital.
Innovation through Cooperation
Shaping the future together: we are investing in start-ups and relying on open innovation for new ideas and partnerships. Working with our steadily growing network, we are developing digital business models and pioneering technology solutions.
OPEN INNOVATION INITIATIVES
We seek active cooperation and partnerships with start-ups in consumer and industrial sectors. A key factor for success is cooperation on an equal footing: we want to combine the best of two worlds to create a win-win situation for both sides. In addition to specific projects, Henkel receives important input, fresh ideas and new food for thought. Start-ups, on the other hand, can gain access to global markets, entrepreneurial know-how and the opportunity for investment. To accelerate digital innovations, we have developed our own idea factories. We also rely on tech & digital innovation hubs as centers for innovation for our digital transformation.
Love Nature
Love Nature GmbH takes care of sustainable innovation in the Consumer Brands business. This idea factory is where innovative and environmentally friendly laundry detergents and cleaning products are co-created with consumers, sustainability influencers, and sustainability experts. Their shared goal is to continuously develop the market and provide new sustainability boosts through innovation. For example, all Love Nature products are plant-based, refillable and all bear the EU Ecolabel.
CORPORATE VENTURING
Got a good idea? As part of our corporate venture capital activities, we invest in young, high-growth start-ups with digital or technological expertise all around the world. If the concept suits Henkel, then the start-ups receive investment, access to our network of experts, and benefit from our many years of experience in our core global businesses. Henkel has two venture units that act as an interface between Henkel and the external innovators: Henkel Tech Ventures and Henkel dx Ventures.
Henkel Tech Ventures
Henkel Tech Ventures is the corporate venturing arm of Adhesive Technologies and invests especially in start-ups that offer materials science solutions or innovative digital business models. By way of example, Henkel Tech Ventures has invested in companies working on sensor technology for manufacturing and in the 3D printing sector.
Henkel dx Ventures
Henkel dx Ventures is the ventures unit of Henkel dx, which invests in digital business models such as direct consumer platforms in the e-commerce sector. Working with start-ups, market research experts, tech giants, and consumers, we create innovation focusing on consumer packaged goods (CPG).
