ESSEN, Germany - Evonik will open its first research and development center for additives for paints and coatings in Asia. The Tego Innovation Center will have two locations, in Singapore and Shanghai, as part of the global Evonik innovation network.

The center will cater to manufacturers in the paint and coatings industry in India and Asia. Collaborations with regional customers and research institutions aim at providing individual solutions to strengthen the competitiveness and innovative capabilities of Evonik’s Asian customers. Research is geared to meet regional demands and will focus on developing cutting-edge, environmentally friendly coating systems to accommodate resource efficiency.

Initially, Evonik will employ 20 to 25 researchers and specialists from the region. In Singapore, Indian, southeast Asian, and northern Asian nationals will look after customers in their home markets. Chinese specialists based in Shanghai will serve the Chinese market. Besides intensifying the cooperation with business partners, the center will expand research collaboration with top local universities.

Together, three laboratory groups installed in Singapore and Shanghai will cover all research and development activities relating to additives for paint and coatings. A synthesis laboratory will develop chemical structures for potential new products. A laboratory for formulation development will perform screening and preliminary product design, and a laboratory for strategic market development will be responsible for developing and marketing end products.