“The Chinese market is strategically important in our global strategy, and we are willing to increase our investments to address the demands here,” said Ilham Kadri, CEO of Solvay. “With a stronger research force in China, we will accelerate innovations that drive circular economy solutions and a sustainable future in response to the global megatrends and the ever-changing local needs.”

The new R&I building features several state-of-the-art laboratorie, a pioneering pilot hall dedicated to advanced materials applications, and spaces customized for both industrial applications and consumer goods research. The new innovation will platform serves sectors like green hydrogen, electronics, and semiconductors, and features an automation and robotics lab, representing “a leap forward in Solvay’s transformative journey towards digital evolution,” the company stated.

Pascal Metivier, Solvay’s head of Research & Innovation, said: “We are continuously expanding our research and innovation competencies in China to meet the evolving demands in the fast-growing sectors. The new capabilities empower us to speed up the delivery of research results in a series of markets and foster closer cooperation with customers in the region.”

In addition to the new research building, Solvay has recently launched its Material Application & Development Lab in Shanghai. According to Solvay, this strategic move addresses to the growing demand for tailored high-performance material solutions from major local end markets such as automotive, new energy, life solutions and pharmacy, smart devices and semiconductors.