Arkema Opens Expanded R&D Center in Shanghai

Arkema has opened its expanded Shanghai R&D Center. This expanded facility will strengthen Arkema’s strategic role as an innovation platform serving all the Group’s businesses. 

The center will enable synergies among teams and co-development with customers in China and across Asia, to accelerate innovation in cutting-edge applications and the successful deployment of advanced and sustainable material solutions. 

This expansion is fully aligned with the Group’s investment strategy in its global R&D laboratory network.

This expansion illustrates the One Arkema strategy by leveraging the Group’s broad materials expertise to strengthen its role as a preferred innovation partner. 

It also increases laboratory space by about 20% and adds new collaborative areas, including an interactive showroom, to showcase Arkema’s Specialty Materials solutions and foster closer engagement with customers and partners.

This expansion will also reinforce interactions with the local innovation ecosystem through partnerships with organizations such as Shanghai Chemical Industrial Park and Green Support Industry (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., which are closely connected to start-ups and emerging technology companies.

Thierry Le Hénaff, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arkema, inaugurated the expanded center alongside the Consul General of France in Shanghai, local government representatives, customers, partners, and management representatives.

Le Hénaff said: “China is Arkema’s second-largest market and one of the most dynamic innovation hubs worldwide. As industries and customers in China accelerate their R&D efforts, we must continue to strengthen our local capabilities to stay closely aligned with their evolving needs. This upgrade of Arkema’s R&D Center in Shanghai will bring together expertise from across the Group to co-develop with our customers high-performance, sustainable Specialty Materials solutions.”