SABIC opens state-of-the-art research center in Europe

SABIC inaugurated a new research facility at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen on May 19. The official opening was led by the Governor of the Limburg Province Theo Bovens and Peter Borman, Director Regional Technology Affairs Europe at SABIC. The state-of-the-art research center expands SABIC’s research capabilities in the area of innovative chemistry and materials.

The 200 guests included Governor Theo Bovens representing the Dutch Province of Limburg, Mr. Sjraar Cox, Mayor of Sittard-Geleen, where SABIC is based, Bert Kip, CEO of Brightlands Chemelot Campus and Henny Jacobs, Director Investment Projects Netherlands, Foreign Investment Agency. With one push of the button, Governor Bovens and Peter Borman unveiled a work of art by Marcel Timmers, symbolizing engagement and expertise.

According to Bert Groothuis, Director Corporate Sustainability Europe, the research center is the latest milestone in SABIC’s innovation journey, and combines its expertise in chemicals, polymers and excellence in innovative application development. SABIC continues to focus on innovation in chemistry and develop new and sustainability solutions together with customers and partners, which are being used in several markets, including transportation, packaging and building industries.

As an example, Mr. Groothuis cited the development of a new product based in light weight foamed polyolefins, specifically developed for bumper applications for the automotive industry, with benefits such as improving fuel economy and reducing CO2 generation, noise and vibration and increasing safety and harshness (NVH) control. SABIC  Technology & Innovation team also developed so-called ‘renewable polymers’ for the packaging of for instance beverages, based on renewable feedstocks that are not competing with the food chain.

Bert Kip, CEO Brightlands Chemelot Campus, shared the developments within Brightlands and the region, saying that with SABIC’s new research building, as well as some 300 SABIC scientists now active, the campus community will develop further. The Campus is on its way to turning the community into a European material hotspot for businesses and research institutes with new and unprecedented opportunities to grow and innovate.

Governor Theo Bovens, Representative of the King in the Limburg province congratulated SABIC and spoke about the importance of chemistry and innovation to the region. Governor Bovens said that Limburg excels in transformation: from agriculture to mines, from mines to chemistry and from chemistry to knowledge industry.

The new research building accommodates over 130 Technology & Innovation employees. It also includes a brainstorming room, supporting ‘out-of-the-box thinking’. Several labs complete the centre, where materials and applications are being developed and tested. The new building extends the research buildings of SABIC Technology & Innovation at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus, where approximately 250 employees focus on the research and development of chemicals and polymer materials, and are a central part of the European innovation labs in Geleen, Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands, Wilton -UK and Cartagena –Spain.