Solvay Expands In Asia, Opens Three New R&D Technology Centers

The investment program will be completed before the end of 2011. The centers will enforce sustainable development in the region and give a boost to Solvay’s presence in Asia.

Each center will focus on customer-tailored innovation for the region by leveraging the various strengths of the group, focusing on open innovation with the regional academic world, approaching key markets and applications and fostering Asian talent.

The Indian RD&T center will be based near Vadodara, Gujarat. The Korean Center will be housed in Ulsan and the Chinese center in the Shanghai region.

The center in India will focus its efforts primarily on high-performance polymers, organic chemistry, nano composites, biotechnology and green chemistry. The center in Korea will be driven by high-growth markets such as electronics, lithium ion batteries and photovoltaic cells. The center in China will tailor solutions for the Chinese market. All three centers will progress in parallel.

To support its strategy of sustainable growth, Solvay is also reinforcing its high-level competencies in the fields of science, technology, patent, regulation and procurement in each center as well as in Thailand.

Christian Jourquin, chief executive officer of Solvay, said: “Innovation is one of the highest priorities for Solvay. We are committed to work closely with the research talent in this very promising region and we look forward to increase the intensity of the cooperation with the academic world in Asia.”

Roger Kearns, region general manager of Asia Pacific and member of the executive committee of the Solvay group, said: “The creation of the three RD&T centers and the reinforcement of the high-level competencies in the region show clearly Solvay is pursuing its strategy to develop its activities and presence in this part of Asia.”