Clariant Opens Euro 100-million innovation centre in Germany

Clariant, on October 31, 2013, officially opened its Euro 100-million Clariant Innovation Center (CIC) in Frankfurt, Germany. The company’s new global hub for R&D is based at the Industriepark Hochst. It will be the home of Clariant’s competence centres in chemical research and process technology as well as application laboratories for several Business Units and state-of-the art analytical laboratories. 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 centres across Europe, North America, Brazil, Japan, India and China.
 
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Located at Clariant’s largest manufacturing site, the CIC will benefit from the excellent 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 sq m and will house around 500 employees from R&D and supporting business and administrative functions. The modern, open-plan building was designed by Dusseldorf 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. 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. The new CIC will facilitate this, providing a stimulating environment fostering creativity and know-how exchange. We are delighted to share this important step for Clariant with our distinguished guests today,” said Hariolf Kottmann, CEO, Clariant.