Research hub for resource efficiency

Germany-based specialty chemicals company Evonik opened its first research hub for resource efficiency topics in Singapore on April 17, 2018. The R&D hub is a reflection of its expanded research into the areas of functional surfaces and additive manufacturing. The research hub is also home to Evonik’s 12th project house tissue engineering, which is under the leadership of Creavis, the strategic innovation unit of Evonik. It also showcases Evonik’s strategic decision to expand the internationalisation of its research and development activities. 

 

“This latest addition to Evonik’s capability in Asia is part of Evonik’s commitment not only to the Asian region, but to the rest of the world. In this hub, we have three major topics – functional coatings, additive manufacturing and tissue engineering. However, there is quite a difference because we set up a research hub in Asia with a centre of excellence that will develop products not intended for Asia alone for also for Europe, North America and other parts of the world,” according to Dr. Gerd Loehden, Senior Vice President of Innovation Management for Resource Efficiency segment at Evonik. As a result, innovation activities of the research hub go beyond localised concept to cover initiatives with globalised reach.  

 

Evonik has been engaged in providing materials for the additive manufacturing or 3D printing industry with the opening of a production plant for polyamide 12 in 2016, It is also involved in HP’s Open Materials and Applications Lab, which started operations in 2017. The new research hub in Singapore will further strengthen Evonik’s role in the additive manufacturing sector as it takes advantage of Singapore’s strengths.  

 

For Evonik, Singapore combines the best of two worlds: highly qualified researchers from leading science faculties and quick reaction times of local administration. The research hub is ideally located to drive innovation for Evonik’s Resource Efficiency segment by developing forward-looking solutions and technologies for clients in all global markets. “Evonik works with customers in its major markets, including Asia, and in the course of strengthening our relationship to our customers, a global project like this is relevant,” Dr. Loehde pointed out.  

 

Located in Biopolis, home for international and groundbreaking research in Singapore, the hub offers national and international professionals and graduates – spanning from engineers to scientists – a creative environment for innovative ideas in a highly interactive workplace. Talents from all over the world will be brought together to carry out pioneering R&D by integrating scientific and technological capabilities in a collaborative lab concept.

 

Evonik innovation activities aimed at globalised reach.

 

 

With the R&D hub, Evonik is expanding its collaboration with public and private research institutions and organisations. It has formed a partnership with Nanyang Technological University Singapore to develop novel technologies in additive manufacturing for industrial application. Evonik has been present in Singapore for over 20 years and has strong regional footprint as a market leader in specialty chemical industry, particularly in Asia, “Singapore is an attractive place to work and there is so much energy in the partnership between Evonik and the university especially in the area of additive manufacturing where we expect important innovations,” Dr. Loehde explained.  

 

Headquartered in Singapore, Evonik is present in the Asia Pacific South region with production sites, sales offices, innovation and technical service centres located in Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. With more than 1,600 employees in the region, the company steadily grows its footprint in Asia Pacific South by expanding its regional operations in response to the growing demand. 

 

Recent strategic investments and growth in the region include the construction of a second world-scale methionine complex in Singapore and a demonstration plant for sugar substitute isomalt in Thailand which serve as a testament to the importance of Asia Pacific South 

to Evonik.  

 

Dr. Gerd Loehden, Senior Vice President of Innovation Management for Resource Efficiency

 

Intensifying R&D in new areas

Another major development in Evonik’s investment in the region is the operation of its Tissue Engineering Project House in Singapore, a venue where scientists from various disciplines work to develop reliable solutions possible for tissue regeneration following accidents or disease. The aim is to develop materials for biological implants in medical applications. The Project House will work closely with Evonik experts in the US and Germany.

 

As Evonik pursues research in fields such as healthcare solutions, it intends to tackle tissue engineering at its new project house with an eye to cutting-edge applications in the field of regenerative medicine. After having successfully concluded the Medical Devices Project House in Birmingham, Alabama (US), Evonik is now taking the next step in the direction of regenerative medicine. At the Medical Devices Project House, Evonik conducted research on polymer-based materials such as those used for resorbable implants.

 

According to expert estimates, the market for the materials needed in the field of tissue engineering is growing by roughly 30% yearly and will reach the $3 billion mark by 2021. Tissue engineering refers to the growth of living cells on a scaffold material, for which they require special nutrients and growth factors. The ultimate goal is to grow tissue outside of the organism and then implant it as a way of creating or regenerating bones, cartilage, tendons, or even arteries. The project house will conduct research to develop reliable, scalable, effective tissue engineering solutions for regenerative medicine. 

 

Opening of Evonik Research Hub in Singapore

 

Evonik has extensive experience with materials such as biodegradable polymers suitable for use as scaffold materials for tissue replacement. As it continues developing these materials, it will also be establishing new areas of expertise and be working with the Medical Devices Competence Center in Birmingham. Using 3D-printed scaffold materials to produce desired tissue structures to repair injuries, for instance, is one of the topics of the future. Another focus is on optimising the conditions under which tissue cells grow on the scaffold materials. Evonik has exceptional expertise in the field of biotechnology. The company also has the knowledge of the culture media needed and of its ingredients (amino acids, etc.).  

 

As Evonik’s strategic innovation unit, Creavis establishes project houses offering an open space in which scientists from a variety of units within Evonik can work together on a specific topic area. The experts generally come together for a period of three years. The products and technologies developed at project houses are typically marketed by one of Evonik’s operational segments. Evonik has established 11  project houses since the year 2000. Tissue Engineering is Evonik’s 12th project house.

 

“Evonik has been able to develop unique methods that escalated technology into a totally new process.  And in this we were able to meet market demands for highly specialised material solutions,” Dr. Loehde explained. 

 

As Asia remains a large market with a growing population, the demand for new materials and technical services will continue to expand, encouraging further investment into this region. As Dr. Loehde concluded: “Evonik made huge investments into this region and facilitated the transfer of technology. Our confidence in this region is reflected in the various projects we have, such as the second Evonik plant which was constructed here in Singapore, a clear sign of where we anticipate future growth areas.”