Merck invests €47m in Darmstadt chemical R&D

06 March 2008 12:49  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Merck is to invest €47m ($72m) in a chemicals research and development (R&D) centre to be built at Darmstadt, Germany, the pharmaceutical and chemical company said on Thursday.

 

Construction will begin in June 2008 and was expected to be completed by the end of 2009, the German company added in a statement.

 

Most of Merck’s key R&D for the chemicals sector will happen at the new centre, which will have three laboratories and pilot plant buildings, the company said.

 

“The activities to be housed in the new facility include the research departments of the liquid crystals division currently located at sites in Darmstadt, Frankfurt and Mainz, as well as R&D activities of the performance and life science chemicals division,” the statement said.

 

Approximately 340 employees will be employed at the centre.

 

“This investment is a further step toward expanding our competence as a leading supplier of technologically sophisticated and innovative products and solutions in specialty chemicals,” said board member Walter Zywottek.

 

($1 = €0.65)

 

By: Lucy Craymer
+44 20 8652 3214

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