Our more long-term corporate research activities are conducted within a worldwide scientific network. In addition to our Corporate Research unit in Düsseldorf, our research companies SusTech in Darmstadt and Phenion in Düsseldorf, and also Henkel Kindai Laboratories in Japan, contribute significantly to our innovation strength through their work in the fields of nanotechnology, skin research and functional polymers. All results are transferred to the business sectors to provide new possibilities for portfolio expansion.

The average number of employees working in research and development at the Company’s sites around the world in 2006 was approximately 2,800, the majority being deployed in Germany and the USA.

We protect our technologies around the world through more than 8,000 patents. We also have over 5,000 patent applications pending, and we possess more than 2,000 registered designs safeguarding our intellectual property.