BASF has established the research initiative “Network for Advanced Materials Open Research” (NAO) together with seven leading universities and research institutes in China, Japan and South Korea. The scientists aim to cooperate in developing new materials for a wide range of applications. The initial focus is on products for the automotive, construction, detergent and cleaners industries as well as the water and wind energy industries. “The initiative is a further important step in BASF’s strategy to expand global research activities,” said Dr. Christian Fischer, President Advanced Materials and Systems Research. BASF plans to conduct 50% of its research activities by 2020 outside of Europe – one quarter in Asia Pacific. BASF has also launched similar initiatives around the world, the “Joint Research Network on Advanced Materials and Systems” (JONAS) in Europe, as well as the "North America Center for Research on Advanced Materials" (NORA).

The Beijing University of Chemical Technology, the Beijing Institute of Technology, the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Fudan University, Hanyang University, Kyoto University and Tsinghua University are participating in the initiative. The researchers are being supported and advised by a scientific committee comprising six independent professors and scientists from BASF. “Open research activities like NAO contribute to BASF’s regional ‘grow smartly’ strategy to develop innovations in Asia Pacific together with and for our customers in Asia and the world. Simultaneously, this demonstrates the attractiveness of BASF for young researchers in the region,” said Dr. Karl-Rudolf Kurtz, Senior Vice President, BASF Research Representative Asia Pacific.

The academic partners are not only contributing their scientific expertise in material sciences, modeling and synthesis methods, but are also introducing ideas for interesting research approaches. Besides their well-founded scientific knowledge, the BASF researchers also possess the necessary experience in translating the research findings into technically feasible solutions and identifying which material properties are required for different industries and applications.