RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

CHF 1 billion

Clariant invested over the past five years in

The Clariant Innovation Center (CIC) is a state-of-the-art competence center for global chemical research and process technology at Clariant’s largest production site in Frankfurt-Höchst (Germany). Equipped with research and application laboratories for several and the most up-to-date analytics, the CIC is also where the Intellectual Property Management (use of patents) and New Business Development departments are located.

The CIC is an important part of the global research and development network of Clariant which includes more than 60 R&D centers in Europe, North and Latin America, India and China, with a total of about 1 100 employees. The CIC also integrates external partners. In the »Open Lab« within the center, Clariant works on innovation projects together with customers and other development partners. In addition, Clariant participates in more than 130 scientific collaborations with universities, research institutes and external partners.

Research and development are of paramount importance for Clariant. Additional sales growth of 1% to 2% per year is expected to be achieved in the coming period from the introduction of new innovative products alone. To do this, Clariant’s »innovation pipeline« is filled with more than 300 projects across all business units at the start of 2016. About 60 projects are »class-one projects« with sales potential in a double-digit million range in Swiss francs.

Clariant invested more than CHF 204 million in research and development in 2015 alone. For the past five years, this amount was CHF 1 billion. Research-intensive areas such as Clariant’s Business Unit Catalysts spend more than 7% of their sales revenue on R&D. Over 7 000 patents underscore the advanced technological expertise within the Group.

Innovation Fair promotes new ideas

The second Innovation Fair was held at the CIC in Frankfurt in early October 2015. Nearly 100 representatives of international start-up companies, universities and research institutions as well as Clariant experts participated in the event. The focal points of the one-day program were issues of sustainability, renewable resources and environmentally compatible technologies. With the motto »Green Chemistry«, the event also aimed to examine possibilities for new collaborative partnerships for Clariant. In doing so, the technical and scientific dialog with international experts was intensified while Clariant was presented as a company with a focus on sustainability and innovation.

Various events and information platforms also served to capture the (individual) needs and requirements of customers. The efficient Clariant innovation management allows customer needs to be served in a targeted, accurate fashion with value-added products and solutions. For this purpose, Clariant also uses synergies in research and development across all with the four technology platforms – Chemistry & Materials, Biotechnology, Process Technology and Catalysis. These platforms include all forward-looking chemical technologies and deliver customized and sustainable solutions. The solutions are increasingly based on renewable raw materials using microorganisms, optimized enzymes and high-performance catalysts. As a result, natural resources are used optimally and the pollutant and greenhouse gases are continuously reduced.

R&D

Research & Development VIEW ENTIRE GLOSSARY

Business unit

Clariant’s seven Business Units include: Additives; Catalysts; Functional Minerals; Industrial & Consumer Specialties; Oil & Mining Services; Pigments. VIEW ENTIRE GLOSSARY

Business area

In 2013 Clariant adjusted its reporting segments and grouped its businesses with similar end-user markets and growth drivers. Today, the company reports in four distinct Business Areas: Care Chemicals, Catalysis, Natural Resources, and Plastics & Coatings. VIEW ENTIRE GLOSSARY