Brussels and Savli, 25 May 2012, at 7:30 am
SOLVAY OPENS A MAJOR INNOVATION CENTRE IN INDIA
New Research, Development and Technology Centre to focus on high-performance polymers,
organic chemistry, nano composites and green chemistry
Solvay is today inaugurating its new Research, Development and Technology Centre at Savli, Gujarat State, India. The Centre will focus its efforts mainly on the development of high-performance polymers, organic chemistry, nano composites and green chemistry. Housed in a new and high-performance sustainable building, it will employ over 200 researchers when fully operational.
The RD&T Centre will tap the country's huge innovation talent potential and carry out open innovation in collaboration with premier institutes in India. The Centre has also established three fellowships for research in sustainable chemistry, nano technology and polymer science at the Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara. The collaboration between university, research institutes and business organizations is essential to foster breakthrough innovation, speeding up the design process and the launch of new products in the market.
"I am convinced that India offers to Solvay significant growth opporunities and this Center will be a key contributor to implement our strategy in the country", said Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, CEO of Solvay during the inauguration ceremony.
"We will focus on customer-tailored innovation for the region by leveraging the various strengths of the Group and the innovation potential of the regional academic world," added Sanjay Charati, Head of the Research, Development and Technology Centre in India.
The Solvay Group has been active in India since 2000. With 7 production sites and about 900 employees in the country, it principally manufactures specialty polymers, engineering plastics, surfactants and special chemicals. The Group generated EUR 180 million of net sales in India last year and has the ambition to double its sales in the country within the next 3 years.
SOLVAY (http://www.solvay.com/) is an international chemical Group committed to sustainable development with a clear focus on innovation and operational excellence. It generates over 90% of its sales in markets where it is among the top three leaders. Solvay offers a broad range of products that contribute to improving the quality of life and the performance of its customers in markets such as consumer goods, construction, automotive, energy, water and environment, and electronics. The Group is headquartered in Brussels, employs about 29,000 people in 55 countries and generated EUR 12.7 billion in net sales in 2011. Solvay SA (SOLB.BE (http://www.euronext.com/trader/summarizedmarket/stocks-2593-EN-BE0003470755.html'selectedMep=3)) is listed on NYSE Euronext (http://www.euronext.com/) in Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB.BB (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=SOLB%3ABB) - Reuters: SOLBt.BR (http://www.reuters.com/search?blob=SOLBt.BR)).
For further details, please contact:
| Lamia Narcisse (mailto:lamia.narcisse@eu.rhodia.com) | Erik De Leye (mailto:erik.deleye@solvay.com) | Maria Alcon-Hidalgo (mailto:maria.alcon-hidalgo@eu.rhodia.com) | Patrick Verelst (mailto:patrick.verelst@solvay.com) |
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Source: Solvay S.A. via Thomson Reuters ONE
