RB, a global consumer health and hygiene company formerly called Reckitt Benckiser, will invest $170 millionin its consumer health R&D operations with the creation of a state-of-the-art Center of Scientific Excellence to be based in the U.K.

One of six major RB R&D facilities worldwide, the new U.K. center will become the global technical innovation hub for products such as Nurofen and Strepsils. The decision to locate the new center in the U.K. at the company’s Hull site reflects both the existing consumer health expertise in the U.K. and the U.K. government’s positive attitude toward encouraging innovation, science and technology.

The project will include the development of a new building on the site equipped with state-of-the-art consumer health laboratory facilities. RB’s objective is to make the center a “magnet for talent” for technical science expertise. In addition, RB will be significantly upgrading the current home care category R&D facilities in Hull, and completing work already begun on general improvements across the site.

The investment will both secure the long-term future of the existing operations and 1,200 jobs in Hull. RB expects building work to start early in 2015, with the new Center of Technical Expertise to be fully operational by early 2018.