BASF has cut the ribbon on its biggest R&D investment in South Asia to date. The specialty chemicals supplier inaugurated its new Innovation Campus Asia Pacific in Mumbai, India last week, and expects its total investment in the project to reach €50 million.

The new 20,000 sqm innovation campus will expand the company’s existing R&D activities in India to include global and regional research on a wide range of specialty chemicals, including personal care. The collaborative space houses laboratories, offices, an auditorium, and employee amenities as well as sustainable features such as LED lighting to lessen its environmental impact.

“A growing need for energy, food and clean water, limited resources, and a rising world population pose huge challenges. Innovations based on chemistry will enable new solutions,” said Martin Brudermueller, Vice Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF SE and Chief Technology Officer. “As a consequence, BASF is expanding its research and development network, especially to emerging markets in Asia, as we want to drive innovation addressing customer and market needs at an early stage. Mumbai will be another powerful regional innovation hub for BASF, with proximity to the dynamically growing Indian market.”