Clariant unveils €100m Innovation Center
The new Clariant Innovation Center, which opened in Frankfurt, Germany, will be a global hub for R&D
Specialty chemicals company Clariant has opened a new €100m facility at the Industriepark Höchst site in Frankfurt, Germany, which will act as a global hub for R&D.
The Clariant Innovation Center (CIC), which is located at the company's largest manufacturing site, covers a surface area of 36,000sqm and will house approximately 500 employees. The centre will host Clariant's competence centres in chemical research and process technology, application laboratories for several business units and analytical laboratories.
CEO Hariolf Kottmann said: “Advances in chemistry are necessary to help our customers respond to society's trends and challenges. 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 ongoing exchange of ideas, which often sparks further ideas and solutions. The new CIC will facilitate this, providing a stimulating environment fostering creativity and know-how exchange.”
Martin Vollmer, Chief Technology Officer, added: “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. 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.”
