Innovation
A leader in sustainability with a portfolio rich in innovative products
Growth driven by innovation
We invest significantly in R&D
We create more profitable, safer, and more sustainable products and processes, develop our own capabilities, and improve the way we work. We believe that being open to the ideas and enthusiasm of outside collaborators will help our company achieve its maximum potential and lead the way to a more sustainable chemical industry. Simply, growth driven by innovation.
Key figures
per year invested in Research & Development (R&D)
We hold more than 5000 patents
key R&D locations.
You find them listed below!
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Check out how we are creating more profitable, safer, and more sustainable products.
Collaborative innovation
We believe that being open to the ideas and enthusiasm of outside collaborators will help our company achieve its maximum potential and lead the way to a more sustainable chemical industry. We therefore work closely with customers to develop solutions that meet their changing needs and forge partnerships with external parties such as startups whose unique ideas complement our experience, resources, and business needs.
Go to our Open Innovation Space and learn more about work with us as equal partners to make the chemicals industry more sustainable.
Areas of interest includes key technologies related to our product portfolio, bio-based surfactants, waste-water treatment, cellulose technology, chloralkali and much more.
Examples includes the Impuls Program with the Technical University of Eindhoven, ARC-CBBC; our partnership with technology venture capital company Icos Capital; screening, scouting and venturing, our own global technology scouting team; S/Park, the open innovation campus at our Deventer research center and many more initiatives driven by our business units.
Through our Imagine Chemistry collaborative innovation program we invite startups, scale-ups, university spin-outs, and other potential partners to work as equals and tackle chemistry-related challenges and uncover new ways to create value for customers. The program was first launched in 2017 and is now running for the 3rd time.
Our innovation strategy
Much of our innovation efforts focus on three areas where we push the frontiers of chemical innovation and strive to remain a true sustainable innovation leader. Through initiatives which span our entire business, we are pushing new frontiers in:
Biomass to chemistry
We are leveraging our heritage in surfactant and cellulose chemistry to create an industry independent of fossil feedstocks.
We continue to use partnerships to accelerate innovation and manage risk. With Itaconix we are developing several applications using their bio-based polymers.
We keep developing novel bio-based solutions within our businesses. Together with Renmatix for instance, we are developing biobased additives for paints.
Resource efficient polymer technologies
We are using our polymer expertise to drive the transition to circular chemistry. We are working with partners to develop an advanced facility to convert household waste to chemicals.
In close collaboration we support our customers to produce polymers sustainably. For example, our CiD technology increases PVC production capacity by 20-40% while improving quality, reducing costs, and making production safer.
We have our own innovation programs on developing new, sustainable polymer solutions.
Green electrochemistry
We create sustainable raw materials using green energy.
We are working together with key partners to develop new products and markets. Together with Tata Steel and Port of Amsterdam we are looking to develop the largest green hydrogen cluster in Europe.
The creation of sustainable raw materials is done by innovating traditional processes and exploring new businesses.
The majority of our R&D budget is dedicated to growing our existing portfolio of innovative products and developing next generation products and technologies. This is managed by the individual Business Units and much of this work is done in collaboration with our customers. The deep knowledge of our customers' applications allows for focused, application-driven research and innovative customer support.
To support these efforts our Expert Capability Center Deventer provides deep expertise and high-level facilities in the fields of measurement and analytical sciences, materials technologies and environmental testing.
Solving your challenges using our expertise
Expert Capability Center Deventer
Open positions in R&D
Our main R&D locations around the world
More information
Our Open Innovation Space
Learn more about work with us as equal partners and how to submit YOUR ideas
We are a global specialty chemicals leader.
Markets worldwide rely on our essential chemistry in the manufacture of everyday products, such as paper, plastics, building materials, food, pharmaceuticals, and personal care items. Building on our nearly 400-year history, the dedication of our 10,000 employees, and our shared commitment to business growth, strong financial performance, safety, sustainability, and innovation, we have established a world-class business and built strong partnerships with our customers. We operate in over 80 countries around the world and our portfolio of industry-leading brands includes Eka, Dissolvine, Trigonox and Berol.
Deventer, Netherlands