The only rational answer is, “We cannot do without them.”
More than 90% of the things that touch our lives every day are made possible by the science of chemistry. The clothes we wear, the electronics we use, the cars we drive, the medicines that save our lives – all are enabled by chemistry. In fact, our standard of living would not be possible without the products the chemical industry and companies like Dow produce. So YES, we need chemistry.
We believe our industry has to move from a philosophy of creating products in a manner which does no harm to creating innovations that do more good.
It’s the job of our Research & Development organization to examine technical and market issues, develop solutions, and assess the risk-adjusted potential return for our company and shareholders. This ensures that we can deliver an enduring innovation engine with a greater chance for success over time and across technologies.
These are challenging times, but solving hard problems is one of the most rewarding experiences a scientist or researcher can have.
Dow’s Core R&D organization provides leveraged Research and Development capabilities and services that support many of the core capabilities and technology wells for all Dow businesses. The organization is focused on the driving the delivery of innovation and technical support for complex problem-solving.
- Applied Science and Technology
- Research and Engineering Sciences
- Catalysis
- High Throughput Catalysis
This powerhouse $26 billion portfolio of leading basic plastics and chemicals serves more than 6,000 customers worldwide, and is an integrated source of raw materials for Dow’s Performance businesses. It meets the changing needs of a broad spectrum of industries — from packaging, personal care, toys, pipes and tools to adhesives, de-icers, pharmaceuticals, paper and construction. The Basics portfolio is growing primarily through joint ventures that enable Dow to reduce capital intensity, expand globally, and improve access to advantaged feedstocks and energy.
- Polyethylene
- Polypropylene
- Polystyrene
- Basic Chemicals
- Core Chemicals
- Ethylene Oxide/Ethylene Glycol
Hydrocarbons & Energy
Dow's Hydrocarbons & Energy R&D organization provides a sustainable, integrated portfolio of innovative technologies to deliver cost-advantaged feedstocks to the downstream businesses through:
- Support of existing global assets and cracker technology including reactors, furnaces, separations, process chemistry, and catalysis
- Development of breakthrough Generation 1 options for improving/retrofitting our current olefin production assets through:
- Increased energy and raw material efficiency
- Retrofits to increase capital efficiency
- Increased diversification of feedstock resources
- Delivery of technology options (process design and catalysis) that enable diversification of our feedstock base (methane, coal, biomass).
- Delivery of on-purpose propylene technology options.
Performance Plastics & Chemicals
Dow’s $27 billion Performance portfolio serves customers in markets around the world with an extensive range of differentiated plastic, chemical and agricultural solutions. Our products improve lifestyles in many ways: making cars safer, buildings more energy efficient, food healthier, water cleaner, electronics more durable, computers faster, and much more.
- Designed Polymers
- Dow Latex
- Specialty Chemicals
- Polyurethanes and Polyurethane Systems
- Specialty Plastics and Elastomers
- Technology Licensing and Catalyst
Dow’s strong R&D functional performance combined and customer intimacy delivers a world-leading innovation engine.
