AkzoNobel has reinforced its commitment to encouraging sustainable growth through technical innovation by launching its acclaimed Science Award in China. Established in partnership with the Chinese Chemical Society, the honor – to be known as the AkzoNobel Chemical Sciences Award – will be granted to three distinguished scientists every two years.

Originally set up in 1970 to recognize groundbreaking interdisciplinary research and outstanding scientific contributions, the current AkzoNobel Science Award is presented annually and alternates between Sweden and the Netherlands.

“This award not only represents an important part of our heritage, but also indicates that we share the same goal of encouraging pioneering scientific research in China with our partner, the Chinese Chemical Society,” said AkzoNobel Board member Leif Darner, who officially launched the new award today in Shanghai.

“Establishing this award in China reflects our growth ambitions and underlines the strategic importance of China in the company’s blueprint for growth. It demonstrates the company’s strong support and encouragement of excellence in the underpinning sciences upon which our innovations depend, and is a great example of putting our promise of delivering Tomorrow’s Answers Today into practice through scientific advancement and innovation in China.”

Added Mr. Fu Xi, vice president of the Chinese Chemical Society: “China has embarked on a strategy of growth and invigoration through science and education and we are pleased that AkzoNobel shares this aim through the introduction of this new award. Our country has a vast pool of talent in science and research and I am confident that AkzoNobel will find this investment to be rewarding and beneficial to its developments in China. We look forward to working with the company to recognize and encourage great accomplishments by Chinese researchers in the field of chemical sciences.”

AkzoNobel has been making substantial investments in China since the early 1980s and now has 25 manufacturing facilities and more than 6,000 employees throughout the country. The newestsite, in Ningbo, will beone of the company’s largest locations and the first production facilitywill come on stream early next year.

Nominations for the first award will take place in early 2010. The laureates – who will each receive a prize of RMB 100,000 – will be selected by an independent panel convened by the Chinese Chemical Society. They will receive their award at a special ceremony to be staged during the annual meeting of the Chinese Chemical Society in June 2010.