BASF launched a research initiative in Asia as part of a strategy to expand its global research activities and provide new materials for several key industries in the region, the company said March 13.
“The initiative is a further important step in BASF’s strategy to expand global research activities,” said Christian Fischer, president advanced materials and systems research.
By 2020, BASF plans to conduct 50 percent of its research activities outside of Europe, one-quarter of which will take place in Asia Pacific, Fischer said.
The company has partnered with seven universities in China, Japan and South Korea to conduct research on products for the automotive, construction, detergent and cleaners industries as well as the water and wind energy industries.
The initiative is called the Network for Advanced Materials Open Research. The research team has already launched several projects in the region, including development of a modeling tool to predict the aging properties of composite systems used in the wind industry. Another project underway in Shanghai is the development of coating systems based on hybrid materials.
For further information, visit nao.basf.com.