Du Pont's new R&D centre in India

Citation

(2008), "Du Pont's new R&D centre in India", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 37 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2008.12937bab.021

Du Pont's new R&D centre in India

Article Type: Industry news From: Pigment

Du Pont has announced plans to invest more than Rs100 crores to construct its first research and development center in India. The Du Pont Knowledge Center will be located in Hyderabad and is expected to accommodate more than 300 scientists and other employees.

“The Du Pont Knowledge Center in India will focus on discovery research as well as applications development in a variety of areas,” said Du Pont Senior Vice President and Chief Science & Technology Officer Dr Uma Chowdhry. “This location will allow us to engage some of the world's top scientific talent in bringing better innovation to both global and local Du Pont customers faster.”

Du Pont has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ICICI Knowledge Park, Hyderabad, for a long-term lease that will allow Du Pont to construct its own R&D facility on 15 acres of land in the park. The groundbreaking is slated for March and is expected to be fully operational in early 2009.

The Du Pont Knowledge Center at Hyderabad will provide the needed research and development capabilities for Du Pont to assist in business growth in India and other surrounding countries. It will be the sixth major Du Pont R&D facility outside the US Other major Du Pont R&D facilities are located in Shanghai, China; Utsunomiya, Japan; Hsinchu, Taiwan; Wuppertal, Germany and Meyrin, Switzerland.

Research at the site will focus on “integrated science” the addition of biology to traditional strengths in chemistry and materials science to develop the company's application pipeline in India and other emerging markets. The site will initially focus on molecular biology, bio-informatics and polymer synthesis, with further R&D in the company's application pipeline across all five of its business growth platforms.

“The establishment of the Du Pont Knowledge Center in India is consistent with our company strategy of going where the growth is,” said Balvinder Singh Kalsi, President, Du Pont India. “Our intent is to leverage Indian science and engineering talent for the benefit of Du Pont customers and shareholders.”

Du Pont has appointed Homi Bhedwar director of the India Knowledge Center. Prior to relocating to Hyderabad, Dr Bhedwar held R&D leadership positions in Du Pont Electronic & Communication Technologies' businesses at the company's headquarters in Wilmington, DE. Most recently, he led a range of initiatives designed to support the company's high-growth businesses.

The Du Pont Knowledge Center is expected to house research programs for several businesses in addition to molecular biology research for Du Pont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.