Our research activities are conducted within a worldwide scientific network covering the fields of biology, chemistry and engineering. Here we develop innovative technologies for our products. The results provide new possibilities for portfolio expansion.

The average number of employees working in research and development at the Company’s sites around the world in 2008 was about 2,900, the majority being deployed in Germany and the USA.

We protect our technologies around the world through more than 7,000 patents. We also have roughly 5,000 patent applications pending, and we have around 2,300 registered designs safeguarding our intellectual property.