Materials

International plastics group Borealis has clinched a deal with the Upper Austrian government, which will see Linz become the centre of the company’s research activities.

The move is part of a broader agreement with the Upper Austrians, which is intended to see the region become a plastics industry research hub by 2011. The regional government has pledged €18.7m for infrastructure changes.

Borealis said it is increasing the number of staff at its Linz Innovation Centre by around 80 and will be investing €25-30m in the facility over the next five years.

Borealis chief executive John Taylor (pictured) said: “We look forward to working closely with our partners in Austria to make Linz an outstanding success as the centre of our international research activities for the long-term benefit of the plastics industry.”

The polyolefins supplier, which has its headquarters in Denmark, is also investing €7m to create a single innovation centre building in Porvoo, Finland. It intends to merge its two other research centres in Norway and Sweden into one Scandinavian Innovation Centre.

Additional plans are underway to establish an Innovation Centre in Abu Dhabi. This is part of the company’s continued growth with Borouge, its joint venture with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

At the moment, Borouge has a production facility in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, which produces Borstar-enhanced PE products for packaging markets.