BASF opens global R&D centre in Mumbai

BASF SE today inaugurated a new global research and development (R&D) centre at its Thane site in Navi Mumbai, to focus on organic synthesis, advanced process and formulation research, discovery chemistry for modern agricultural solutions, and molecular modelling.

With an initial investment of €2 million, this new facility has been set up by BASF under its group company, BASF Chemicals India Pvt Ltd.

The new R&D facilities will accommodate more than 60 scientists in the first phase, the company said in a release.

''With our R&D Centre in Navi Mumbai we have taken a significant step closer to BASF's globalisation goal in R&D. By 2020, we plan to conduct 50 per cent of our research activities outside of Europe – one quarter in Asia Pacific,'' said Harald Lauke, president, Biological & Effect Systems Research at BASF.

He said, ''By establishing a global research presence in Mumbai, we will be able to work directly with a wide range of scientific talents in India and take steps towards our strategic goal to innovate from Asia Pacific, for Asia Pacific and the world. We are also currently evaluating further investment options into R&D in Asia Pacific, including India.''

''Market-driven research and development is the cornerstone of BASF's global 'We Create Chemistry' strategy and we are therefore significantly expanding our R&D network in Asia Pacific. With our unique combination of chemistry, application know-how and the new and improved R&D set-up, we are well positioned to work even more closely with our customers and across the region and globally, and help them solve their challenges and develop sustainable solutions,'' said Gops Pillay, president, South and East Asia, ASEAN, and Australia / New Zealand, BASF.

BASF recently established an agronomical research and development field station in Pune, near Mumbai, for its agricultural business. ''India is a core market for BASF with a strong scientific community. By enhancing our local R&D presence, together we can realise advances which go beyond the scope of today's solutions,'' said Raman Ramachandran, head South Asia and chairman, BASF companies in India.

BASF invested a total of €1.8 billion in R&D as it continued the worldwide expansion of its research and development centres in 2013, especially in Asia and North America.

With an investment of a highly talented workforce of approximately 10,650 employees worldwide, and a research pipeline of 3,000 projects globally, BASF filed around 1,300 new patents worldwide in 2013.

In India, BASF maintains a strong R&D presence through its sites in Mangalore and Mumbai, which are part of a global technology platform.

In India, BASF has 2,254 employees at eight production sites and sales offices and two R&D centres. In 2013, BASF registered sales of €1.02 billion in India.

BASF had global sales of about €74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of end of the year.