BASF invests 2 mn euros to set up global R&D center in Mumbai

Leading chemical company BASF SE today inaugurated a new global research and development (R&D) center at its Thane site in Navi Mumbai with an initial investment of 2 million euros.
The new R&D has been set up by BASF under its group company, BASF Chemicals India Pvt Ltd. This facility will accommodate more than 60 scientists in the first phase.
It will 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 euros to set up R&D center 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," BASF President Biological & Effect Systems Research Harald Lauke said in statement here.

"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," Lauke said.
BASF recently established an agronomical research and development field station in Pune 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," BASF companies in India Chairman Raman Ramachandran said.

In 2013, BASF continued the worldwide expansion of its research and development centers, especially in Asia and North America.
With an investment of 1.8 billion euros in R&D, a highly talented workforce of approximately 10,650 employees worldwide, and a research pipeline of 3,000 projects globally, BASF is committed to offering chemistry-based solutions for almost all sectors of the industry. 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. Strategically located to offer close proximity to key production assets and customers, these facilities support close collaboration between research, development and business teams on site.