Air Liquide strengthens its innovation capabilities in China

Air Liquide has inaugurated its new Shanghai Research & Technology Center (SRTC) just after celebrating the 20-year anniversary of its Engineering & Construction facilities in Hangzhou, a city of Zhejiang province in Eastern China, illustrating the long-term commitment of the Group in China.

On February 25, 2016, Air Liquide inaugurated its new Shanghai Research and Technology Center (SRTC), located in the Shanghai Xinzhuang Industrial Park, in the city's Minhang District. This new center will ultimately host 250 employees,including researchers, experts in customer applications and business development teams. It will become a major center for the Group's innovation in the Asia-Pacific region.

The SRTC will help Chinese customers and consumers benefit from Air Liquide's innovative solutions and global innovation network to tackle environmental and societal challenges. The center will address issues such as energy transition, CO² emissions reduction, waste water treatment, urban air quality, food safety, and healthcare.

Covering 12,000 square meters of laboratories, offices, showroom and pilot demonstration platforms, the center represents an investment of € 25 million, announced in 2014. The building is designed in compliance with LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design), a global standard in sustainable building that factors in efficient water management, good use of energy, and the reduction of emissions.

The inauguration follows the celebration of the 20-year anniversary of Air Liquide Engineering & Construction in Hangzhou. Key player providing innovative solutions related to industrial gases, the Engineering & Construction site in Hangzhou is specialized in designing, manufacturing and constructing leading-edge air separation units, syngas purification units and other industrial gas plants, operated in China and abroad. Founded in 1995, the site has grown to be a major manufacturing and engineering center of the Group with nearly 700 employees.

François Darchis, Senior Vice-President, member of the Air Liquide group's Executive Committee, supervising Innovation, commented: "We are extremely pleased to simultaneously celebrate these two events in Shanghai and in Hangzhou, illustrating commitment to grow in China over the long term. This has been made possible with the help of the local authorities, partnerships with our customers, and connections with academia and more generally, with the innovation ecosystems."