HENKEL KGaA

Their core work

Henkel is a major German multinational in adhesives, sealants, coatings, and consumer products (detergents, cosmetics). Within H2020, they serve as an industrial end-user and validation partner, bringing real-world product formulation and manufacturing expertise to collaborative R&D projects. Their involvement centers on integrating bio-based materials, enzymes, and sustainable chemistry into commercial product lines — from greener detergents and bio-processed cosmetics to antifouling coatings and advanced adhesive technologies. They bridge the gap between laboratory-scale biotechnology and large-scale industrial application in consumer and industrial chemical products.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Henkel's early H2020 involvement (2016–2018) was broader and more materials-focused, spanning nanofibre optics (1D-Neon), nano-conducting materials (NECOMADA), and lightweight alloy coatings (ALMAGIC) alongside initial bio-based chemistry work. From 2019 onward, there is a clear consolidation toward biotechnology and sustainability — enzyme engineering, biocatalytic processes, biorefineries, and bio-based polymer alternatives dominate their recent portfolio. This shift reflects Henkel's corporate sustainability strategy, moving R&D investment from general advanced materials toward green chemistry and circular bioeconomy.

Henkel is systematically building capabilities in enzyme-driven and bio-based manufacturing, positioning itself to replace petrochemical inputs across its adhesive, detergent, and coating product lines.

How they like to work

Henkel participates exclusively as a partner — never as coordinator — which is typical for large industrial companies that contribute application expertise and validation capacity rather than driving the research agenda. With 111 unique partners across 17 countries in just 9 projects, they work in large, diverse consortia (averaging ~12 partners per project). This makes them an accessible and experienced consortium partner who understands how multi-party EU projects work, but they will expect clear industrial relevance and a defined role in end-use validation or scale-up.

Henkel has built a wide collaborative network of 111 unique partners across 17 countries, indicating strong pan-European reach with no narrow geographic clustering. Their partnerships span universities, research institutes, and SMEs across the bio-based materials, coatings, and biotechnology ecosystems.

What sets them apart

Henkel brings something rare to EU consortia: they are a global consumer and industrial products company (€20B+ revenue) with direct paths to market for bio-based innovations. Unlike research institutes or SMEs, partnering with Henkel means your technology has a concrete route to commercial products used by millions — detergents, adhesives, coatings, cosmetics. Their involvement signals industrial validation and serious scale-up potential for any technology they help develop.

Highlights from their portfolio

• FuturEnzyme
  Combines machine learning with enzyme discovery for greener detergents and bio-processed cosmetics — directly aligned with Henkel's core consumer products and represents their most forward-looking R&D direction.
• PEFerence
  Largest project by duration (2017–2025) focused on bio-based PEF polyester as a sustainable alternative to PET, with broad biorefinery implications across multiple Henkel product lines.
• ZABIO
  Targets replacement of toxic biocides in construction coatings with bio-based antifouling agents — addresses a pressing regulatory and environmental challenge in Henkel's sealants business.