Germany-based company Evonik announced it has opened new Innovation Hub in Pennsylvania, US. The new hub with state-of-the-art labs will support the company’s global research, development and innovation strategy.
Pictured (left to right): Rep. Susan Wild, Ralph Marquardt (Chief Innovation Officer), Ute Wolf (Chief Financial Officer), Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Bonnie Tully (President North America region).
Evonik, one of the world’s leading specialty chemicals companies, has opened a new Innovation Hub at its Allentown, Pa., site. The Hub consists of several state-of-the-art testing and processing labs as well as a pilot plant. It also features a newly designed collaboration space to support a hybrid and creative work environment.
The Innovation Hub is part of a broader globalization strategy for Research, Development & Innovation (RD&I) at the Germany-based company. “We are strengthening regional RD&I hubs in Asia and North America to benefit from innovative ideas outside of Europe and be closer to our customers in those regions,” said Evonik Chief Financial Officer Ute Wolf at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Allentown Innovation Hub. “The new Hub will transform the Allentown site into our premier center for research, business, and innovation in North America.”
RD&I IS A KEY LEVER TO ITS SUSTAINABILITY TRANSFORMATION
By 2030, Evonik aims to invest more than $3 billion in Next Generation Solutions – products with superior sustainability benefits. Evonik will invest an additional $700 million in Next Generation Technologies to optimize production processes and infrastructure and avoid CO2 emissions.
North America is an essential growth market for Evonik. The region contributed roughly a quarter (23%) to Evonik’s annual sales in 2021, making it the second-largest revenue source after Europe (EMEA). Evonik has invested several billion dollars in North America since 2017, when the company acquired the specialty additives business of Allentown-based industrial gas producer Air Products. “Allentown has been an increasingly important part of our footprint ever since,” said Bonnie Tully, President North America region. “The opening of our Innovation Hub marks the next phase of our growth trajectory in North America.”
Evonik currently employs 300 people at the Allentown site, which is close to Philadelphia, New York City, and many premier research institutions.
“Addressing the global challenges of our time requires the worldwide collaboration of competent partners,” said Ralph Marquardt, Evonik’s Chief Innovation Officer. “North America has a thriving ecosystem for R&D due to world-class universities, innovative companies, and an entrepreneurial startup scene. We are looking forward to developing innovative solutions together.”
