Bayer MaterialScience has opened a regional innovation hub for the Asia Pacific region in the city of Shanghai in China. More than 200 experts will be employed at the hub to develop innovative applications for high-performance plastics, foams and coatings in key sectors such as mobility, construction, IT and renewable energy. They will work in close cooperation with external scientists, suppliers and customers. The new hub, which is located at the company’s existing Polymer Research & Development Centre (PRDC), will provide support for other innovation facilities across the region. The new centre is expected to attract local talent and enhance knowledge-building and transfer. Employees will work in international teams which will include colleagues from R&D centres in Europe and North America. The innovation hub will be supported by a network of production sites in the Asia Pacific region. The largest of these are in Shanghai, Map Ta Phut in Thailand and Niihama in Japan.

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Opening the innovation hub in Shanghai: Patrick Thomas, CEO of Bayer MaterialScience (left), with officials from local authorities and other institutions as well as representatives from the Bayer Group.

© Bayer MaterialScience

Asia Pacific is among the strongest growth regions for Bayer MaterialScience and accounted for more than one quarter of total sales in 2012.