BASF has inaugurated the second phase of its Asia Pacific Innovation Campus, a €90m (£63.5m) expansion located at its Greater China headquarters in Pudong, Shanghai.

Focusing primarily on advanced materials and systems, the expansion adds new areas such as formulations and chemical processes and engineering.

“The Innovation Campus is BASF’s largest R&D centre in the region and an important location in BASF’s global research and development network. The expansion will boost our power to innovate in Asia Pacific for Asia Pacific - and the world,” said Martin Brudermüller, vice chairman of the board of executive directors and chief technology officer.

Sanjeev Gandhi, member of board of executive directors and responsible for the Asia Pacific region, added: “As part of the expansion, a design centre will be established to combine diverse competencies in the area of design-related materials and services, supporting active customer collaboration in this region.”

BASF also is establishing the headquarters of one of its three global research platforms — Advanced Materials & Systems Research — at the Innovation Campus in Shanghai, effective 1 January. Its president, Harald Lauke, also will assume responsibility as regional research representative for Asia Pacific.

BASF said it is substantially expanding the scope of its R&D capabilities in Asia Pacific, with a series of initiatives to bring innovation closer to customers in the region. Overall, the company aims to locate around a quarter of its global R&D activities in Asia Pacific.

In addition to the Innovation Campus in Shanghai, BASF is investing about €50m (£35.3m) to build a new Innovation Campus in Navi Mumbai, India, which will be operational in 2017. The facility will accommodate 300 scientists, investigating areas including polymer research.

“Scientists and entrepreneurs around the world will come together to look into key aspects of sustainable urban living, and identify solutions to improve water management, mobility, buildings and quality of life in general,” said Brudermüller.

This global event, taking place 10-11 November, is the final of a series of three global science symposia held by BASF on the occasion of its 150th anniversary.

Speakers including Nobel Prize winner Professor Jean-Marie Lehn will address potential solutions for the challenges of urban living, with a special focus on China.

» Publication Date: 12/11/2015

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