BASFs Newly Opened Innovation Center to Focus on Advanced Materials and Sustainable Solutions

SHANGHAI, China -- BASF, one of the worlds leading chemical companies, recently inaugurated its first BASF Innovation Campus Asia Pacific and its new Greater China headquarters. The ?5 million expansion of BASFs site in Pudong, Shanghai, where the new facilities are located, marks the companys most important innovation investment in the region to date. Ultimately employing more than 2,500 employees, the site will be one of BASFs largest outside of Germany.

The new BASF Greater China head office houses the administration unit, functional units and sales and marketing units

"Innovations based on chemistry will play a key role in providing solutions to help Asia Pacific meet the challenges of sustainable development. Through close cooperation with materials scientists, technical experts, business colleagues and customers, BASF will create innovations from Asia, for Asia and the world. By 2020, we expect to have about 25 percent of our global R&D headcount in this region," said Dr. Martin Brudermueller, Vice Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, responsible for Asia Pacific. BASF employs more than 800 people in research and development in Asia Pacific.

"The Innovation Campus Asia Pacific will play a central role to gain local access to customers, talent and innovation centers. I am convinced that the enthusiasm and scientific spirit of our colleagues will cross over to other regions in our BASF Verbund and will be the cornerstone of our growing global scientific network in Asia," said Dr. Andreas Kreimeyer, Member of the Board of Executive Directors, Research Executive Director.

At the first phase of the new Innovation Campus Asia Pacific, around 450 researchers and developers in technical teams from 17 regional business units will come together, forming a powerful innovation hub for BASF in Asia Pacific. Scientists in close proximity to local markets will work in international and multi-disciplinary project teams. The Innovation Campus will also help intensify development of local scientific and technical talent and to foster collaboration with universities and scientific institutes in Asia Pacific. Further expansion of the facility is also planned.

At the site, researchers will focus on advanced materials and sustainable solutions. Examples include biobased polymers for home and personal care applications, tailor-made binders for waterproofing in a variety of local climate and weather conditions, thermally conductive plastics for energy-efficient lighting, and advanced polyurethane formulation for shoe components. Additionally, a strong analytics and material physics team will support the R&D activities.

"The overall expansion of the Pudong site marks an important milestone in the history of BASF in Greater China, more specifically of BASF in Shanghai. As one of our largest integrated sites, the Pudong site will be a key enabler for collaboration between BASF employees and customers. Additionally, we aim to engage closely with nearby communities and contribute to the development of Shanghai as an international innovation hub," said Johnny Kwan, Chairman of BASF Greater China Country Board.

China is BASFs third-largest market worldwide. The new Greater China head office will include administration, functional units, and sales and marketing for its business units with more than 1,500 work stations, comfortable social areas on each floor, and a state-of-the-art, multi-function theater.

Globally, at about 70 research and development centers, more than 10,000 BASF researchers in various disciplines are engaged in about 2,800 research projects around the world. The BASF central research and development organization is also integrated into an interdisciplinary and international network: in about 1,950 cooperative partnerships the company is working closely together with partners from science and industry worldwide to develop solutions for a sustainable future. In 2011, BASF filed about 1,050 patents worldwide.

About BASF Greater China

BASF has been a committed partner to Greater China since 1885. With major investments in Nanjing, Shanghai and Chongqing, BASF is one of the largest foreign investors in the Chinese chemical industry, and is developing an Innovation Campus in Shanghai as a research and development hub for the Asia Pacific region. In Greater China, BASF posted sales of over ?.5 billion in 2011 and employed approximately 7,770 people as of the end of that year. The company operates 28 BASF wholly owned subsidiaries and 17 BASF joint ventures in Greater China.

About BASF

BASF is amongst the worlds leading chemical companies. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. It combines economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation it enables its customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Its products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. It has summarized this contribution in our corporate objective: It creates chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about ?3.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS) London (BFA) and Zurich (AN).

Source: BASF