Nouryon, a global leader in specialty chemicals, has officially opened its newest innovation center in Shanghai, signaling a major step forward in the company’s regional growth strategy and its commitment to co-developing future-ready solutions with customers in China. The state-of-the-art facility more than doubles the size of Nouryon’s previous Shanghai center, equipping the company with expanded testing and analytical capabilities focused on fast-growing sectors such as agriculture, electronics, construction, pharmaceuticals and personal care. Designed as a hub for rapid prototyping and customer collaboration, the center represents Nouryon’s 14th facility in its global innovation network.

“The launch of our innovation center in Shanghai marks another important milestone in Nouryon’s future in China,” said Charlie Shaver, chairman and CEO of Nouryon. “It deepens our commitment to innovation and customer intimacy, while enhancing our ability to co-develop high-performance, market-tailored solutions. This center will play a critical role in supporting our customers’ growth across key industries and accelerating our strategic ambitions in China and the broader Asia-Pacific region.” Shaver emphasized that the upgraded site will directly support development programs tailored to the needs of Chinese manufacturers and consumers.

The facility houses eight specialized laboratories, including dedicated spaces for Nouryon technologies that are paving the way for more efficient and sustainable materials. This includes Expancel thermoplastic microspheres for lightweight plastics and composites, Kromasil chromatography media for pharmaceutical purification and advanced drug manufacturing, Levasil colloidal silica for catalytic and petrochemical applications, and Bermocoll cellulose ethers for water-based paints and coatings engineered to reduce environmental impact.

A standout feature is the customer experience center for the personal care business, enabling live demonstrations, real-world performance testing and co-creation workshops that accelerate the journey from concept to commercial product. Customers will be able to directly interact with advanced formulations designed for skin, hair, sun and color cosmetics—segments experiencing rapid consumer-driven innovation in China.

Nouryon’s Shanghai innovation center is also a platform for advancing the company’s sustainability roadmap. Scientists will leverage the facility to develop and scale eco-conscious solutions such as low-VOC coatings, fully biobased chelates, biopolymer-based beauty ingredients and reduced-footprint microsphere technologies. This aligns with accelerating shifts in Chinese markets where regulatory expectations and consumer demand are driving adoption of greener chemistries across the value chain.

To commemorate the opening, Nouryon hosted a ceremony on November 7, attended by customers, local officials, executives and media. The Shanghai expansion complements Nouryon’s ongoing innovation investments in the region, including a newly announced organic peroxides innovation center scheduled to open in Tianjin in 2026, further strengthening the company’s application expertise for polymers and advanced materials.

Nouryon’s message is clear: as China evolves into a global powerhouse for materials innovation and sustainability, the company intends to be at the forefront—delivering technology partnerships and market-tailored solutions that help customers in Asia-Pacific compete on the world stage.