BASF said it is investing about $4 million (Singapore) to set up a new research and development center for Organic Electronics here as part of the expansion plan of its research activities in the Asia Pacific region. BASF has embarked on a new project on Organic Photovoltaics with the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) in the center.

“Chemistry is the lifeblood of innovation,” said Martin Brudermueller, a member of the Executive Board of BASF responsible for Asia Pacific. “We at BASF firmly believe that innovation helps our customers succeed and reinforces our leading position in the chemicals industry. In our research and development center in Singapore, we will focus in future on two important growth clusters: nanotechnology and energy management.

“This new research activity of Organic Electronics expands our global R&D platform and fosters further interdisciplinary cooperation,” he added. “Our investment underlines our firm commitment to Singapore and will generate innovation for our customers in Asia Pacific and other regions.”

The new research center for organic electronics follows the $6 million initial investment in the BASF Competence Center for Nanostructured Surfaces announced in April 2006. Between 2006 and 2009, the total research expenditure for both centers is expected to be $30 million.

In these research centers, BASF will hire 40 employees by the end of the year. Most of these are research scientists and research officers will have qualifications and experience in chemistry and physics. BASF has around 300 employees working in about 20 R&D sites across the Asia Pacific region.

“Singapore is strategically situated in the heart of a world-class, well-connected environment with a strong and stable infrastructure and a strategic focus in R&D,” said Florian Doetz, head of the Organic Electronics laboratory in Singapore. “We are convinced that the huge future market size predicted for the technology Organic Electronics will translate into high growth potential for BASF.”

The Organics Electronics lab is a shared technology platform that cuts across energy management and nanotechnology, both growth clusters for BASF.

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