Chemicals group Clariant opens German R&D hub
Specialty chemicals group Clariant on Thursday opened its new €100 million Clariant innovation center (CIC) in Frankfurt, Germany.
The center, which will be the company’s new global hub for research and development (R&D), is based at the “Industriepark Höchst.” It will be the home of Clariant’s competence centers in chemical research and process technology as well as application laboratories for several business units and analytical labs.
The CIC will also house the departments for intellectual property management and new business development. As the corporation’s global hub, the CIC will ensure the coordination of Clariant’s world-wide R&D network, which includes centers across Europe, North America, Brazil, Japan, India and China.
Located at Clariant’s largest manufacturing site, the CIC will benefit from existing infrastructure as well as industrial and academic links offered by the Rhein-Main region.
The new facility covers a total surface area of 36,000 square meters and will house around 500 employees from R&D and supporting business and administrative functions.
The modern, open-plan building was designed by Düsseldorf architects Hentrich-Petschnigg & Partner. It features a mix of open workspaces, offices and laboratories to foster the exchange of ideas among employees as well as with visiting partners from industry and academia.
“Advances in chemistry are necessary to help our customers respond to society’s trends and challenges,” said CEO Hariolf Kottmann. “We therefore see fostering R&D and innovation as one of the four strategic pillars defining the future path of our company.
“Experience shows that innovation results from open communication and an on-going exchange of ideas which often sparks further ideas and solutions,” he added. “The new CIC will facilitate this, providing a stimulating environment fostering creativity and know-how exchange.”
Themed “In touch with Clariant”, a multimedia exhibit on the premises showcases recent Clariant innovations. These include flame retardants that keep electrical and electronic devices safe without harming the environment; biotechnology processes to create biofuels from agricultural residues; using renewable raw materials to boost crop yields; eliminating parabens from cosmetics; reducing environmental pollution from industrial plant emissions; and flagship projects to substitute natural gas by converting CO2 with hydrogen derived from renewable energy.
“The CIC will open up a new dimension in the way Clariant connects its R&D departments internally as well as how Clariant engages external partners”, said Martin Vollmer, chief technology officer.
“Within the CIC we have established an ‘Open Lab’ in order to work on innovation projects with customers and other development partners under one roof. This will enable us to translate market needs into innovative product solutions in a fast, flexible and efficient way.”
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