Henkel Kindai Laboratories (HKL), which opened in April 2001, is a leading-edge technology research center jointly operated by Henkel KGaA, Germany and Kinki University, Japan. This partnership, the first of its kind in Japan, operates in a purpose-built research center in Iizuka, Fukuoka on the Kyushu campus of Kinki University. The goal of HKL is to rapidly and efficiently translate novel scientific research into new commercial products and technologies.