ESSEN, Germany – Klaus Engel, Chairman of the Executive Board of Evonik Industries, has laid the foundation stones for two research and development centers at the company’s Essen, Germany, site. One center is for new, environmentally friendly additives and special binders for the coatings industry. The other center is for products for the cosmetics industry. In total, the group is set to invest some €31 million in the two building complexes. The innovation center for the coatings industry is to be completed at the end of 2012.