Research Center Inspired by Skin: Germany's Largest and Most Modern Research Center

On August 30, 2004 we opened our expanded international center for research and development in Hamburg. At the center, 650 international scientists carry out basic dermatological research and product development in cooperation with renowned universities and institutes. Therewith they create the basis for a new generation of skin and beauty care products. The main focuses of the skin research are skin physiology and the development of innovative emulsion technologies.

An important part of the new research center is the test center, which houses a fully electronic test subject management and control system. In close cooperation with universities and equipment manufacturers, a special department for bioengineering also works on the development of new measuring methods. In total 38 million euros were invested in the new 16,000 m² building complex, thereby creating, in combination with the existing facilities, Germany's largest and most modern research center.

The researchers call the auditorium of the research center the "philosophers' stone"; an allusion to the description in use since late antiquity for the most important substance in alchemy. "the philosophers' stone is said to be able to transform base metals (...) into gold or silver and (...) to have a rejuvenating and healing effect (elixir)" (Source: Brockhaus, Leipzig/Mannheim 1996-99). The auditorium of the research center is the greatly magnified reproduction of a human skin cell. Achieved knowledge and research results are regularly presented and passed on. This exchange of knowledge is the basis of our successful research and development.