Innovation through Cooperation

Shaping the future together: we are investing in meaningful collaborations 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. 

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. 

OPEN INNOVATION INITIATIVES

Consumer

We seek active cooperation and partnerships with players 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. Our partnerships, on the other hand, can gain access to global markets, entrepreneurial know-how and the opportunity for investment. We also rely on tech & digital innovation hubs as centers for innovation for our digital transformation. Learn more about our diverse partnerships from academic and industrial sectors.

PEM Motion

PEM MOTION
e-mobility research

Henkel has a strategic partnership with RWTH Aachen University’s Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components ‏(PEM Motion GmbH) to collaborate on research projects in the field of e-mobility. This strong partnership between industry and academia allows the organizations to pioneer next generation battery technologies, explore material requirements for their realization and the development of safer and more sustainable batteries.

Henkel partners with predictive maintenance solutions provider Nanoprecise Sci Corp to drive digitalizing industrial operations.

NANOPRECISE SCI CORP
Digitalization of industrial operations

Improved efficiency and greater sustainability are the driving forces beyond the strategic partnership between Henkel Adhesive Technologies and Nanoprecise Sci Corp ‏(Nanoprecise), an AI-based predictive maintenance solutions provider based in Canada. This alliance reinforces both organizations’ commitment to digitalizing industrial operations and to help customers realize the value of advanced technology. The partnership symbolizes a union of industry expertise and technological innovation.

Henkel and Adobe expand their partnership to deliver personalization at scale with the power of GenAI.

ADOBE
Digitalization and AI

Henkel´s commitment to digitalization is proved by its strategic partnership with Adobe to jointly accelerate innovations. For example, Henkel´s data-driven platform for digital business and e-commerce ‏(RAQN), which allows Henkel to have a single, unified view of its consumers and customers, is powered by Adobe Experience Platform. Additionally, the partnership allows Henkel to fine-tune Adobe´s generative AI model Adobe Firefly by using its own assets to train its Custom Models.

CORPORATE VENTURING

Consumer

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 corporate venture capital arm of Henkel’s consumer goods business. Our mission is connecting value-driven capital with our established ecosystem to create the next. We partner with start-ups for co-innovation and invest in promising ventures.