BASF opens Rs. 17-cr global R&D centre.

BASF Chemicals India, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Germany-based BASF, has opened a global research and development centre at its plant in Navi Mumbai with an investment of Euro 2 million (about Rs. 17 crore).

The R&D centre will focus on organic synthesis, advanced process and formulation, molecular modelling and agro chemicals.

Inaugurating the research centre, Harald Lauke, President, Biological and Effect Systems Research, BASF, said the new research centre would help the company work with a wide range of scientific talent in India and take it closer to the goal of innovating from Asia-Pacific for Asia-Pacific and the world.'By 2020, we plan to do 50 per cent of our research in Europe and the rest split between America and Asia. This would enhance researchers' strength in Asia to 3,500 from 750.'

Raman Ramachandran, Chairman and Managing Director, BASF India, said though the contribution of India to the global sales was hit due to rupee depreciation against the euro, the parent company is keen on its investment in India.

BASF has registered sales of Euro 74 billion last year, while India's contribution was about Euro 1.02 billion . Despite the economic slowdown, Indian operation has managed better growth, but it was not reflected in the global sales numbers due to the rupee depreciation, he said.

Last year, BASF invested Euro 1.8 billion in R&D globally. It had filed about 1,300 new patents worldwide in 2013. BASF expects the Dahej manufacturing plant in Gujarat coming up with an investment of Rs. 1,000 crore to commence production this year, said Ramachandran.

Stressing on the importance of strengthening intellectual property rights, Lauke said the company spends about $270 million and takes about 10 years to develop a single product.


HBL