Borealis’ Innovation Center opens, Upper Austria pushes to be plastics innovation hub

Borealis inaugurated its new Euro 40 million headquarters in Linz, Austria on Nov. 20 after approximately one-and-a-half years of construction gave the company room and facilities to add 100 new employees devoted to research and development. Those employees complement the existing 1100 employees that currently work for Borealis in Linz. Gerhard Roiss, chairman of Borealis’ supervisory board, said in a release that the investment gives plastics momentum in upper Austria.
 

The first construction stage of Borealis’ expansion was finalized this summer, with the completion of a five-story application hall, which accommodates pipe, film, and injection molding production machinery, as well as the relevant analysis and laboratory equipment. In addition, a polymerization laboratory was built adjacent to the application hall and will produce batch samples of new grades that are specifically tailored to customer’s needs. The company says the proximity of the two stages of development means samples can be tested and analyzed in the adjoining labs before being produced on a larger scale in pilot or production plants.

Roiss said the new Plastics Engineering program at Johannes Kepler University in Linz will supply the burgeoning local industry specialists and scientists into the future. “With this new program, Linz will be able to position itself as an attractive location for international experts in the field of research and development,” Roiss said. The company reports that more than 100 students are already enrolled for the winter 2009-2010 term. The program was funded by the state of Upper Austria, which provided Euro 7 million, as well as the regional plastics industry, with 15 local firms pitching in Euro 4.1 million.

In addition to the international Innovation Headquarters in Linz, Borealis operates innovation centers in Stenungsund, Sweden; and Porvoo, Finland. A new innovation is under construction in Abu Dhabi by Borealis’ joint venture Borouge. —[email protected]