Haleon has broken ground on its new Global Oral Health Innovation Centre in Weybridge, Surrey. The facility will enhance Haleon’s science capabilities, accelerate innovation, and serve as a centre of excellence for global oral health research.
The groundbreaking ceremony, attended by UK Minister Baroness Jones, marks an important step in Haleon’s ambition to reach one billion more consumers by 2030, by strengthening its oral health R&D capabilities to put health in more hands globally. Set to become the R&D centre for Haleon’s oral health portfolio, the centre will be a hub for research, product innovation, commercial and supply chain excellence, and cross-functional collaboration.
Equipped with the latest technology and global expertise, the centre will feature a digital immersive room designed to unlock value at pace through real-time collaboration with Haleon’s manufacturing site in Levice.
At the heart of the building, the atrium will create a hub for teamwork and co-creation, bringing leading expertise together to develop solutions that address unmet oral health needs for consumers around the world.
Designed with sustainability at its core, the site has recently achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating, recognising its exceptional commitment to sustainability at phase one in the design stage.
Franck Riot, chief R&D officer at Haleon, said: “We are excited to break ground on our Global Oral Health Innovation Centre – a major investment reflecting our commitment to advancing science and innovation. This powerhouse for oral health research will strengthen Haleon’s R&D capabilities and accelerate the development of cutting-edge solutions to meet the evolving oral health needs of consumers around the world.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, said: “This exciting milestone is another demonstration of the strength of the UK life sciences sector, a key pillar to our Industrial Strategy. Under this government Britain is open for business, and through our Plan for Change we’re delivering more investment, more jobs and more money in people’s pockets.”
UK Minister for Technology, Baroness Jones, said: “Haleon is breaking ground on a new centre that will place the UK at the forefront of innovation to improve everyone’s oral health – which we know is important to our wider health, and to children’s development. This centre, and the substantial investment behind it, is proof that the UK’s world-leading life sciences sector is the place to be to grow businesses and work on fresh ideas to transform healthcare. Leveraging these strengths will lead to the long-term economic growth that will help us deliver on our Plan for Change.”
Jayant Singh, global category lead for oral health at Haleon, said: “With oral diseases affecting nearly half the world’s population, this marks an exciting step forward in our mission to put health in more hands for millions across the world. This centre will play a key role in harnessing the full potential of science and innovation across our oral health portfolio.”
