Inspiration Center Shanghai: Henkel’s new hub for innovation in China

Serendipity – the happy accident

The building is designed to make conversations easier – and to allow space for the unexpected: serendipity, the fortunate discovery that cannot be planned. And this idea, developed by Wilson and his team, clearly works. You notice it quickly when speaking with colleagues on site.

Kefan describes the same dynamic in plain terms: Whether it’s lunch in the canteen, a short chat in the hallway or a quick check-in in the lab, people talk – and those everyday exchanges often unlock the next step in a project. This spontaneity aligns well with Shanghai’s culture, he says: open, fast and curious. And it fits Chinese ideas of teamwork. “The principle of collaboration, the almost family-like atmosphere – together, they create a culture where knowledge flows naturally.”

High-tech under one roof – digital, automated, sustainable

The ICS has also reshaped daily work for Xinn Wang. “The Inspiration Center is a new beginning in my career,” she says. “I work with more people, more technologies and much more closely with customers. It opens up completely new perspectives.” Xinn, a polymer physicist, is a Product Development Manager in the area of metal sealants and has been with Henkel for more than ten years.

Her teams once worked in separate laboratories. Today, Xinn is part of a large, shared lab where several teams work on water-based technologies. This brings practical benefits: During project planning, teams often realize that another group already owns the equipment needed – making new purchases unnecessary. “The ICS delivers very real economic advantages,” she says. “But more importantly, we constantly learn from one another.”

The center was also designed with shared equipment in mind. “We have curing ovens but also reliability chambers in which components are tested for months,” says Kefan. For more complex applications such as electronics, work often begins on the computer. Together with a specialized modeling team, Kefan and his colleagues digitally simulate customer applications. These simulations show how a material behaves within a specific assembly. Based on this, the team selects only the most promising formulations for real-life testing. As a result, fewer variants need to be tested physically and development cycles become shorter – although final validation in the lab always remains essential. A new automated testing unit further accelerates this process: Mechanical tests can be performed in high volumes and results are recorded digitally. Automation and digital platforms make laboratory work more efficient and data-driven.

A stage for customers: from infinity room to exhibitions

To ensure that new developments match market needs, the ICS also includes a dedicated Customer Experience Center. One of its centerpieces is the Infinity Room, an immersive digital space that presents more than 10,000 solutions in a 270-degree experience. Visitors can explore Henkel’s broad technology portfolio and experience applications across 800 industry segments. Complementing this, rotating physical and digital exhibits highlight how megatrends such as urbanization, mobility, connectivity, digitalization, and sustainability are shaping Henkel's innovations.

Here, the boundaries between lab and application begin to dissolve. For Xinn, customer interaction has changed significantly. In the past, her team prepared samples and brought them to customers. Today, customers visit the laboratory themselves. The center is “much more open” than a traditional lab, she says. Visitors can walk through the facilities and see everyday products in the exhibition to understand where Henkel’s solutions are used. This benefits both sides: Discussions often spark new ideas and potential projects. “Innovation is ultimately measured in the product,” says Wilson. “But inspiration is about people. An Inspiration Center has to deliver both: excellent development and an environment that encourages customers, partners and teams to think in new ways.”

Embedded in a worldwide network: driving innovations for the region and beyond

All of this also increases Henkel’s appeal as an employer, especially for highly skilled professionals who want to work on advanced technologies. And that is crucial, because Shanghai has long been a center of development in the region, says Kefan, who has observed the market closely for many years. In the end, the Inspiration Center Shanghai represents more than a new building. It shows how Henkel views innovation in adhesives – as an interplay of technology, talent and global collaboration. A place where ideas begin and make their way into the world.