BASF invests €90 million in expansion of Innovation Campus Asia Pacific

BASF has broken ground on the second stage of its Innovation Campus Asia Pacific development at its Pudong site in Shanghai, China. The company is investing €90 million in expanding its R&D building and auxiliary facilities, with completion scheduled for the end of 2015. The expansion will mean that the Innovation Campus will be one of BASF’s largest R&D sites outside of Germany. It will enable the firm to strengthen its support of growth industries in the region, such as the construction and automotive sectors. Its areas of focus will include advanced materials and systems, formulations, chemical process and engineering services.

The first phase of the Innovation Campus in Shanghai was inaugurated around 18 months ago. Elsewhere in Asia, the company runs R&D facilities in Japan, Singapore and Korea, and it has plans to open another Innovation Campus in India. In 2013, BASF increased the amount it invested in research and development activities to €1.8 billion worldwide.

“By 2020, around 25% of BASF’s R&D employees will be located in Asia Pacific. The expansion reinforces BASF’s commitment to globalising its R&D activities and capturing growth opportunities in China and Asia Pacific,” said Dr Andreas Kreimeyer, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE and Research Executive Director.

“The Innovation Campus Asia Pacific in Shanghai has proven to be an effective platform that not only responds quickly to market needs in China and Asia Pacific, but also connects BASF with the science community in Asia Pacific. The enthusiasm for innovation among our colleagues, customers and partners is the cornerstone of solutions for a sustainable future in the region,” added Dr Martin Brudermüller, Vice Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, responsible for Asia Pacific.

Adapted from press release by Louise Fordham

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/asia-pacific-rim/28072014/basf-expands-innovation-campus-asia-pacific-183/