A new €50m Clariant Innovation Centre is due to be completed by the end of 2012.
The 23,000m2 centre will be located in the Frankfurt-Höchst Industrial Park and co-operate with all Clariant’s r&d satellite sites in Gendorf (Germany), Lamotte (France) and Suzano (Brazil), as well as 40 application centres around the globe. It will provide space for 500 people. Clariant has invested more than CHF130m (€101m) in r&d in 2010.
‘After the completion of the restructuring, innovation in combination with an increased strategic focus on profitable growth will be a key cornerstone for our company. The goal is to establish Clariant as an innovation leader in the field of specialist chemicals within the next few years,’ said Hariolf Kottmann, Clariant’s chief executive.
HPP Architekten of Düsseldorf has designed the innovation centre, which features an open architectural office and laboratory concept that combines chemical research and development activities with the application-oriented laboratories and technical marketing functions of several business units. In addition to chemical analysis, the building will host the new business development and intellectual property management units as well as the patent department.
‘Our product innovations will also address current megatrends such as renewable energies, energy efficiency and renewable resources with a view to opening up new business opportunities beyond current markets,’ said Christian Kohlpaintner, executive committee member of Clariant Ltd, with responsibility for r&d.
