August 14, 2007

Degussa expands R&D centre in Shanghai
 

Press release
 

Degussa (China) Co., Ltd. announced Aug 13 that it had expanded its R&D centre in Shanghai at a total investment of over EUR22 million.

As one of the largest R&D centres ever established by a multinational company in Shanghai, the new facility has a total of 25,000 square metres of space, housing state-of-the-art laboratories for research and development, application technology, and technical service. The investment included construction of a pilot facility for polymer engineering in a four-story building with an area of 1,250 square metres.

The expansion provides, among other things, a regional hub for sales, marketing, technical services, R&D, and a service platform for customers in China and other countries in the Asia-Pacific.

"With today's inauguration of the new R&D Centre Shanghai, we're delivering on our promise to further enhance our presence in China in research and development. Our enlarged R&D centre will help us to strengthen the interface between Degussa's business units and customers, universities, and research institutes in China and provide customers with tailor-made solutions and high quality products. Our centre will also be the principle site for marketing and sales activities and administrative functions for Degussa China," said Dr Yu Dahai, regional president of Degussa China.

Dr Yu added that the expansion marked another milestone for Degussa's 'Make China Happen' initiative, which aims to boost the company's sales in China to EUR800 million by 2009.

About 2,300 of Degussa's employees work in R&D at over 35 research locations all over the world, including the Nanotronics Science-to-Business Centre and the new Bio Science-to-Business Centre.

Degussa also cooperates with more than 200 universities and research institutes in an effort to transfer scientific knowledge into business swiftly. Some 20 percent of group sales are based on products and technologies that are less than five years old.

Over the next few years, Degussa intends to invest about EUR100 million annually in China, which is expected to further strengthen Degussa's commitment to this important growth region.

EUR1=US$1.3594 (Aug 14)