The Texas Innovation Center will house state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and technical expertise centers to enable ongoing innovation that supports the commercialization of solutions across the various high-growth end-use markets, such as food packaging, personal care and automotive.

“The Freeport site has long been an important research and development location for Dow, providing breakthroughs that have paved the way for a more sustainable future,” said Andrew N. Liveris, Dow’s chairman and chief executive officer. “The enhanced capabilities at our new location will continue the tradition of R&D expertise in Texas by delivering leading edge technology.”

The new center replaces several of the company’s existing R&D facilities in Freeport, TX. Upon completion in 2016, the Texas Innovation Center will be a global research and development hub of modern lab and office facilities for more than 2,000 people from Dow R&D, businesses, functions and manufacturing, says the company. The Texas Innovation Center will be developed for Dow by Core Real Estate, LLC.

“In the next five years our site will see remarkable growth in manufacturing and the Texas Innovation Center will bolster our R&D operations on a long-term path forward as well,” said Earl Shipp, vice president of U.S. Gulf Coast Operations. “This is another example of Dow’s commitment to the Brazosport area, Brazoria County and the U.S. Gulf Coast.”

The Texas Operations site employs more than 12,000 people and has more than 65 manufacturing plants working together to produce 44 % of Dow’s products sold in the USA and about 21 % of the company’s products sold globally.