Evonik has opened its first research and development center for additives for paints and coatings in Asia. A single-digit million US dollar amount has been invested to set up the “Tego Innovation Center” in two locations, Singapore and Shanghai, as part of the global Evonik innovation network. The Tego Innovation Center will cater to manufacturers in the paints and coatings industry in India and Asia.

“Evonik expects the Asian market to generate the largest market growth for the paints and coatings industry in the coming years,” said Thomas Haeberle, the Evonik executive board member responsible for segment resource efficiency, which oversees the coatings and additives business unit. “We are anticipating the greatest demand in the segment for environmentally-friendly coatings. Our new Tego Innovation Center addresses exactly these growth markets."

The Tego Innovation Center in Singapore and Shanghai is designed to foster close collaboration with Asian manufacturers. Evonik will be employing researchers and specialists from the region—a total of 20 to 25 staff members to begin with. Out of Singapore, Indian, Southeast Asian and northern Asian nationals will look after customers in their home markets, and Chinese specialists based in Shanghai will service the Chinese market. The center will also expand research collaboration with local universities.

Together, three laboratory groups installed in Singapore and Shanghai will cover all research and development activities relating to additives for paints 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.