Dow Corning unveiled plans for a $13 million investment in a Solar Energy Exploration & Development Center (SEED) at its European headquarters in Seneffe, Belgium.
(September 28, 2010) — Dow Corning unveiled plans for a $13 million investment in a Solar Energy Exploration & Development Center (SEED) at its European headquarters in Seneffe, Belgium. This investment expands the company’s ability to innovate with a broad range of European customers using its silicon-based materials while also enhancing the company’s European-based solar energy research and development capabilities.
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The investment in SEED includes two new buildings that will complement the company’s existing Business & Technology Center in Seneffe, increasing capabilities and capacity for research and development in Europe.
One facility, a Synthesis Technology Center for the European area, will house laboratories and chemists focused on increasing Dow Corning’s innovation portfolio of silicon-based materials and boosting research in sustainable technologies. A second facility, a European Solar Solutions Application Center, will seek to advance the company’s technology for use in photovoltaic cells. Construction is expected to begin later in 2010.
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“Dow Corning supports many of the tenets of these actions, as we believe a focus on renewable energy and sustainable innovation will bring economic and environmental benefits to Belgium as well as the entire EU.“ said Jean-Marc Gilson, Dow Corning EVP and GM of Specialty Chemicals.
The Walloon region has granted Dow Corning € 7.5 million of subsidies to help the company with its investments.
Isabelle Durant, Member of the European Parliament for the Wallonia region, said: “Wallonia is keen to play its role in increasing Europe’s innovation capacity and cutting carbon emissions – two of the most important common goals of the European Union. We are delighted, therefore, that Dow Corning has chosen our region for its new solar exploration center — a project that both confirms our status as a hub for innovation and creates jobs for the community in the process>”
Dow Corning provides silicones and silicon-based technology. www.dowcorning.com