Beiersdorf Opens New US Innovation Center & Relocates North American Headquarters

Beiersdorf—the Hamburg, Germany-based skin care company behind Aquaphor, Eucerin, Nivea, La Prairie and Coppertone—has opened its doors on a new innovation center in Florham Park, NJ. The firm has also officially moved its North American headquarters from Wilton, CT to Stamford, CT.

Both new facilities represent a strong commitment to the region and will help drive growth for Beiersdorf with a strengthened position in the North American market, according to the company.

By establishing a new regional hub for innovation in New Jersey, Beiersdorf says it will gain further local insights to help identify unmet consumer needs and further fuel innovation.

“The opening of our new headquarters in Stamford and our new Innovation Center marks an exciting new beginning for Beiersdorf North America,” said Mauricio Valdes, general manager Beiersdorf North America. “These new hubs—positioned in fast-growing, business and science centers close to New York City—demonstrate our deep commitment and investment in North America, and will expand our capabilities, open up exciting possibilities, and be at the heart of our continued growth in this pivotal region.”

New Innovation Center

The newly built, state-of-the-art Innovation Center, in Florham Park, NJ. Is located 35 miles west of New York City— area of New Jersey is considered a “science hot bed.” It is also home to other large research and development centers, and has excellent access to talent and universities, suppliers, and testing institutes.

The newly built, state-of-the-art Innovation Center is one of only two Beiersdorf regional Innovation Centers in the world; the other in Shanghai. The Innovation Center in NS is the first global center of excellence for over-the-counter and sun care products outside of Hamburg, said the firm.

Beiersdorf’s research and development division has more than 900 scientists globally in the consumer business segment, including 45 in the new US facility.

“Regional Innovation Centers are a vital part of our global R&D strategy. With this new center we significantly enhance our R&D capabilities, allowing us to accelerate innovation as well as to facilitate close collaboration with our local partners. It therefore enables us to fuse and fully leverage internal and external skin expertise in order to identify unmet consumer needs, and to develop innovative, therapeutic skin care products,” said Dr. Gitta Neufang, corporate senior vice president global R&D.

Apart from the two regional Innovation Centers in China and, now, in the US, Beiersdorf has regional development labs in Brazil, India, Japan, and Mexico.

The new LEED-certified center in New Jersey spans about 32,000 square feet of office and laboratory space with room for expansion, and includes collaboration spaces, a consumer sensory panel focus room, and state-of-the-art GMP laboratory suites for the development of OTC products.

“The Beiersdorf Innovation Center will be our powerhouse in North America,” said Beiersdorf CEO Vincent Warnery. “The U.S. represents the world’s largest skin and sun care markets. A strong R&D presence in North America and an enhanced position in skin and sun care is vital to expanding our business in the region and fully pays into our C.A.R.E.+ strategy.”

According to Beiersdorf, 180 employees will work out of the new Stamford HQ office. The new space sits within a one-million square feet scenic campus, that comprises 2.5 acres of green space in the center of the city of Stamford.  Designed to optimize the experience of flexible and evolving dynamic work styles, the campus features thoughtful and modern amenities such as indoor/outdoor dining, a fitness center, meditation space, and dry-cleaning services. The LEED-certified, open-concept office has more than 250 workpoints, collaboration areas, plus natural air venting, and a panoramic view of the Long Island Sound, according to the company.

Beiersdorf recently invested in a dermatological tech firm, as reported by Happi.com.