Key executives of Bayer MaterialScience, one of the world’s largest polymer companies, and the Singapore Economic Development Board have today officially opened the company’s new Functional Films Research Center in Singapore.
The full-scale facility – for upstream research – will focus on coated high-tech films and nanotechnology to meet the ever-evolving and growing demand of the electronics market in Asia Pacific.
“The opening of this facility is a clear indication of our continued commitment to Singapore and its unique position as an economic and business hub for the Asian region,” Patrick Thomas, CEO of Bayer MaterialScience AG (Germany), said. “This confidence is underpinned by the fact that demand continues to grow for new and innovative film-based products. Much of the research and development for these new materials will be undertaken at this new centre. I would like to pay tribute to the government of Singapore and the Economic Development Board for its support in establishing this R&D facility.”
The center represents an initial investment of approximately 7 million euros with a further provision for broadening its capabilities in subsequent years.
For Bayer MaterialScience, this is the first research center of its kind in Asia Pacific and outside Germany.
“Since 2008, Functional Films of Bayer MaterialScience has been building up research resources and networks in the Asia Pacific region for customer-oriented developments, primarily in Japan, Korea and Taiwan,” said Marcus Yim, Managing Director of Bayer South East Asia. “By collaborating with a network of research organizations and business partners in Singapore and the whole of Asia Pacific, we will put to use the innovative ideas to fast-track products for tomorrow’s markets like automotives, electronics and displays.”
The Functional Films Research Center presently houses about 30 researchers and staff.
SOURCE: Bayer MaterialScience
Edited by Ellie Duncan