LEVERKUSEN, Germany — Covestro is accelerating its global R&D capabilities with its Innovation Center Japan (ICJ), which is now ready and equipped to provide innovative solutions and material developments focusing especially on the automotive and construction segments. The laboratory upgrade will increase the prototype capabilities to create innovative solutions for Japanese industrial partners and customers.

The center started as technical division of Japanese joint venture Sumika Covestro Urethane, which marked its 50^th anniversary on September 1, 2019. The Polyurethanes (PU) and Coating, Adhesive and Specialties (CAS) business units started technical activities in 1971, followed by the Polycarbonates (PCS) business unit in 2009. Since then, the Innovation Center Japan has played an important role as an integral part of the Covestro R&D global network including Germany, the United States and China.

 The renewal of the Innovation Center Japan lab area will enable closer and more intensive cooperation with global leading companies in Japan. The joint innovation power is a main driver for our success in key industries,” said Dr. Markus Steilemann, CEO of Covestro, who celebrated the lab inauguration with the Japanese team.

In addition to the upgraded lab, the Customer Experience Center Lounge is opened to enhance interactions in value-added innovation and better involve Japanese customers. It will be positioned as the point of intersection between latest global technical trends from Covestro worldwide and ideas from customers.

Digitalization is one of the important pillars of Covestro’s innovation strategy. The newly equipped lab is now expanding its digitalization in R&D by focusing particularly on data-driven development with newly hired data scientists. Further, simulation, hardware installation, and laboratory automatization will be developed in close collaboration with the Covestro global digital R&D network.