In establishing a new research and development unit in Taiwan’s Hsinchu Technology Park, Germany’s Evonik Industries (Essen; www.evonik.com) is gaining a foothold in the key growth region for photovoltaics, display, LED and lighting industries. Established on 1 April, the new Light & Electronics project house is the company’s first outside Germany and its ninth worldwide. In the long-term, Evonik plans to turn the house into the nucleus of another R&D competence centre in Asia.

Commenting on the project, Evonik executive board member Patrik Wohlhauser said: "With the new project house, our goal is to move closer to one of the most important electronics markets in the world so that we can tap into the growth opportunities the region offers.” The German company currently is on the lookout for partnerships and joint developments with Taiwanese institutes and electronics companies.

The new house will cater to fast-growing electronics segments, including displays, LEDs as well as tablet PCs among others. For more information on this growing market, see also Plasteurope.com of 01.04.2011. The German company has already teamed up with several Taiwanese producers, including in the Evonik Forhouse Optical Polymers joint venture which produces acrylic polymers for use in liquid crystal displays.