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Borouge plans to file 750 patents by 2020

Abu Dhabi - Innovation hub drives polymer research.

Abu Dhabi Polymers, or Borouge, has officially opened its innovation centre to deliver sustainable and value-added plastics to global customers.
The centre provides value-added plastics solutions for customers worldwide, focusing on infrastructure, automotive and advanced packaging industries.
The inauguration ceremony of the Borouge Innovation Centre was attended by Shaikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chairman of the board of trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation.
Located at Sas Al Nakhl in Abu Dhabi, the hi-tech facility serves as the focal point of innovation and research in the field of polymer development and application technology.
"Borouge Innovation Centre is an embodiment of the UAE leadership's vision who have sought to promote innovation as the basis of our sustainable economy," said Abdulaziz Alhajri, CEO of Borouge. "The Centre is a milestone in the history of Borouge and in the development of a knowledge-based economy."
"We are proud to play a leading role in the industry by responding to fast-growing demands for advanced, value-added plastics. As manufacturers are investing in improving products while adhering to consumer tastes and new regulations, we too must be at the cutting edge of innovation and work together with our partners to find solutions to market needs."
Since the inception of research and development operations two year ago, the Borouge Innovation Centre has filed over 200 patents - accounting for about 30 per cent of all patents filed by UAE applicants in the World Intellectual Property Organisation database.
Around 15 per cent of products currently produced by Borouge have been developed at the Innovation Centre. It is expected that within the next five years, the Innovation Centre will have filed around 750 patents, with new products accounting for around one million tonnes, or 25 per cent, of annual sales.
The Borouge Innovation Centre includes a laboratory and application development resources, supporting Borouge's capability in providing expertise in polymer analysis, processing and application testing.
With over 70 researchers, scientists and technicians, the Borouge Innovation Centre works closely with the European innovation centre of Borealis.
The Innovation Centre also collaborates with international and local educational bodies such as the Petroleum Institute and Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi to further develop the competence of polymer science in the UAE.
"Innovation at Borouge is very much industry-driven," said Wim Roels, CEO of Borouge Pte Ltd, the company's marketing arm. The Centre works with the company's applications centre in Shanghai to develop new products which are now being used by some of the world's biggest car manufacturers.
- haseeb@khaleejtimes.com