BASF of Germany opens global electronic material R&D center at Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, on September 4 

◇ Gyeonggi Vice-Governor Park Su-young participates in the opening ceremony of the BASF Electronic Material R&D Center in the Asia-Pacific Region at Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, on the morning of September 4. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yu Je-hun

BASF, a world-leading chemical company, opened a global electronic material R&D center on the Natural Science Campus of Sungkyunkwan University in Suwon City.

BASF held an opening ceremony for the BASF Electronic Material R&D Center in the Asia-Pacific Region on the 8^thfloor of Comprehensive Research Building No. 1 on the Natural Science Campus of Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, on the morning of September 4.

The opening ceremony was attended by some 50 personages including Gyeonggi Vice Governor Park Su-young; Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-yeong; Executive Gwon Pyeong-oh of the International Trade and Investment Office of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; Invest Korea Commissioner Han Gi-won; Sungkyunkwan University President Kim Jun-yeong; BASF Korea Executive Shin Woo-seong; President Harald Lauke of the BASF Competence Center for Biological & Effect Systems Research; and Senior Vice President Lothar Laupichler of Electronics Materials at BASF.

BASF, the company that developed ‘Styropor’ (a product of polystyrene) for the first time in the world, entered Korea in 1954 and established BASF Korea in 1998.

The R&D Center opened on that day is the first BASF R&D center in Korea. It is committed to researching innovative solutions including next-generation displays such as OLEDs and electronic materials.

Vice-Governor Park Su-young said “Through joint research with Sungkyunkwan University for innovative solutions in such areas as OLED materials, the BASF R&D Center in Suwon will greatly contribute to the advancement of Gyeonggi Province as a leading-cluster in the next-generation display industry.” He added, “We will engage in proactive efforts to encourage global companies such as BASF to locate their R&D centers in Gyeonggi Province.”

Executive of BASF Korea Shin Woo-seong said in his welcome remarks, “Today, here in this place, BASF Korea, which has served as a production base, is marking a new milestone.” He added, “I am confident that Sungkyunkwan University will offer innovative solutions that customers really want. I’d like to express my gratitude to those who have helped and given support.”

Through this R&D Center, BASF will carry out a variety of programs such as scholarships, internships, and industrial training for talented students in the region. BASF also plans to contribute to the globalization of local business and the vitalization of the local economy, particularly by carrying out marketing efforts with prospective SMEs in the province and by making business investments.

Gyeonggi Province expects that the BASF’s global research center will have an industrial contribution effect of KRW 220 billion in total and create 42 high-level jobs.

The province participated in a signing ceremony last April for an agreement made among the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, BASF Korea, Gyeonggi Province, Suwon City and IK to establish the BASF Global R&D center.

◇ Vice-Governor Park Su-young (sixth from the left) and other guests pose for a picture after the opening ceremony. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yu Je-hun

ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News | Kim Jin-kyoung jinkyoung_kim@nate.com

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201409041528327055C052&s_code=C052