Bryanston, South Africa - August 24, 2009
In its continuing endeavor to bring solutions closer to its customers, The Dow Chemical Company (‘Dow’) recently announced two key developments in the expansion of its regional Research & Development (R&D) footprint for the Middle Eastern & Asia Pacific markets with a partnership with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the inauguration of the Shanghai Dow Center in China, in addition to its ongoing plans to establish an R&D hub in India through the company’s regional subsidiary Dow Chemical International Private Ltd (Dow India).
“While the economic environment continues to be challenging, as a company we have great faith in the future of the emerging regions and in the importance of Research & Development as a commitment to use innovation to support the company’s long term growth,” said Jim McIlvenny, Dow’s senior vice president, emerging economies. “Along with our recent acquisition of Rohm and Haas, this is a demonstration of our continued dedication to transforming into the New Dow – a more market-facing and customer-oriented company.”
Dow recently announced the Company’s intent to enter into a strategic relationship with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the intention to establish a multi-year, multi-million dollar joint research framework with KAUST initially aimed at using catalysis as a means to develop new routes for producing chemical derivatives. Dow affirmed its commitment to becoming a founding member of KAUST’s Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP), which aims to enrich the local research experience while promoting economic development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In addition, the Company also announced its intention to explore developmental efforts at the KAUST Research Park and Innovations Cluster. Areas being considered for the park include CO2 capture, enhanced oil recovery, water desalination, solar energy, and wind energy.
Scheduled to open in September 2009, KAUST is a graduate-level research university and the realization of the vision of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to promote the advancement of science and technology. Designed to maximize the effectiveness of industrial collaboration internationally by engaging key partners, KAUST’s Industrial Collaboration Program’s goal is to translate research knowledge into economic growth and job creation for the region.
The Shanghai Dow Center is a global business and innovation hub for Asia Pacific and celebrates 30 years of Dow in China. Spread across 100,000 square meters, the center is powered by an R&D engine that will include more than 500 engineers and scientists working in 80 laboratories. The center will develop innovative solutions for the construction, transportation, energy, water, electronics, and personal care industries – all of which are essential to the improvement of people’s lives in Asia Pacific and around the world. In addition, the center brings together under one roof corporate R&D expertise with its market-focused application development capabilities – an integration that delivers products and solutions that cut across markets, technologies and molecules, and an arrangement that is a first for Dow.
The R&D facility also features a unique Customer Innovation Center (CIC), enabling Dow to work side by side with customers to turn market opportunities and new ideas into profitable solutions – converting concepts into prototypes that will give customers a first-hand opportunity to see how their products will taste in a consumer’s mouth or feel against their skin. Another global first for Dow, the CIC connects Dow’s broad R&D and business expertise with customers’ needs and knowledge.
As the world’s leading specialty chemical company, Dow brings more innovation power in its quest to set the standard for sustainability. Dow people are the world’s best problem solvers focusing on the world’s biggest challenges – health, energy, climate change, transportation and infrastructure, and sustainable consumption – which contain significant business opportunities that can be unlocked by sustainability and innovation.
About Dow
About Dow Southern Africa
Dow traces its South African origins back to 1959 when its first sales office was established. The company is a significant local industry player and operates through a group of wholly owned subsidiaries namely Sentrachem Limited, Dow Southern Africa (Pty) Limited (including the Chemicals and Automotive businesses) and Dow AgroSciences Southern Africa (Pty) Limited. On April 1, 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company. The Rohm and Haas manufactory in New Germany, KwaZulu Natal is incorporated into Dow as its Advanced Materials Division. As a company that has a passion for the betterment of the human condition, Dow continues to be a proactive participant and supporter of Corporate Citizenship programs aimed at conservation and providing support, including education to orphaned, vulnerable and underserved children. Dow is also supportive of economic transformation in South Africa as well as the Responsible Care® Guiding Principles initiative. More information about Dow Southern Africa can be found at: http://www.dow.com/imea/ssa/about/locations.htm
For Editorial Information:
Doritha Erwee
The Dow Chemical Company
27 11 575 1547
Tandi Robertson
GGi
27 11 728 1363
