Research facts and figures 2017
Who we are
Innovations for a sustainable future
Optimism is what drives all human beings. At BASF, this motivates us every day to develop solutions for the greatest challenges of our time – so we can better protect the climate, make optimal use of limited resources and provide food, energy and clean water for a booming world population.
Innovations made BASF the leading chemical company. Today our customers and the whole society are more than ever looking for innovative solutions. We all need answers for problems like climate change, scarcity of resources and marine littering. As the most innovative chemical company we take a special responsibility here, because innovations based on chemistry are key to those answers.
With our Carbon Management Program we set a benchmark in achieving the climate protection targets, with our ChemCycling approach we aim towards a circular economy. We also co-founded the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a global effort to end plastic waste in the environment. This is how we understand our corporate purpose – "We create chemistry for a sustainable future".
Our innovative power
… is based on efficient research and development. We build on our Know-How Verbund: the great creativity, the specific skills and the broad knowledge of our networks. It is all about developing solutions together …
for a sustainable future.
![Immer mehr Elektroautos werden jedes Jahr weltweit zugelassen. Gleichzeitig sind die Rohstoffe für ihre Batterien begrenzt und deren Gewinnung ist mit negativen Umweltauswirkungen verbunden. BASF-Forscher am Standort Ludwigshafen arbeiten daher an einem neuen chemischen Verfahren, damit das in der Batterie enthaltene Lithium in hochreiner Form zurückgewonnen werden kann. Dabei werden zudem Abfälle vermieden und der CO2-Fußabdruck gegenüber bisherigen Recyclingverfahren gesenkt. Im Recyclingprozess entsteht die sogenannte „Schwarze Masse“, die von Laborant Stefan Schleicher (links) und Chemikerin Dr. Birgit Gerke (rechts) aufgearbeitet wird. Immer mehr Elektroautos werden jedes Jahr weltweit zugelassen. Gleichzeitig sind die Rohstoffe für ihre Batterien begrenzt und deren Gewinnung ist mit negativen Umweltauswirkungen verbunden. BASF-Forscher am Standort Ludwigshafen arbeiten daher an einem neuen chemischen Verfahren, damit das in der Batterie enthaltene Lithium in hochreiner Form zurückgewonnen werden kann. Dabei werden zudem Abfälle vermieden und der CO2-Fußabdruck gegenüber bisherigen Recyclingverfahren gesenkt. Im Recyclingprozess entsteht die sogenannte „Schwarze Masse“, die von Laborant Stefan Schleicher (links) und Chemikerin Dr. Birgit Gerke (rechts) aufgearbeitet wird.](/api/imaging/focalarea/16x9/210x/dam/jcr%3A6796ea12-86ab-3b22-a56d-a2f649a93510/5678_Battery_recycling_closes_the_loop_in_elec-tromobility.jpg)
Facts and figures 2020
~10,000
employees in research and development (R&D) worldwide
> 2 billion €
expenses for R&D
16.7 billion €
sales from Accelerator products
~950
new patents worldwide
![In the new research building B007, BASF research moves closer together. Here, scientists from material physics, formulation and specialty chemicals research work door-to-door. They develop new solutions together with polymer chemists in the neighboring building. A bridge, shortening paths, interconnects the two buildings.
Furthermore, open communication areas facilitate exchange between the scientific disciplines. This stimulates creative ideas, and benefits the efficient development of effective solutions.
Sabine Hirth (left), Karsten Seidel (middle left) and Bernhard von Vacano (middle right), from Material Physics, together with Fangfang Chu (right), chemist at Formulation Research, exchange experience and discuss research findings. In the new research building B007, BASF research moves closer together. Here, scientists from material physics, formulation and specialty chemicals research work door-to-door. They develop new solutions together with polymer chemists in the neighboring building. A bridge, shortening paths, interconnects the two buildings.
Furthermore, open communication areas facilitate exchange between the scientific disciplines. This stimulates creative ideas, and benefits the efficient development of effective solutions.
Sabine Hirth (left), Karsten Seidel (middle left) and Bernhard von Vacano (middle right), from Material Physics, together with Fangfang Chu (right), chemist at Formulation Research, exchange experience and discuss research findings.](/api/imaging/focalarea/16x9/210x/dam/jcr%3Adeb8b027-9eee-3dac-aa45-83570cb51ad6/4084_Creative_solutions_and_efficient_research_by_interdisciplinary_diverse_teams.jpg)
Collaborations in Alliances and networks with universities and institutes
We innovate in eight Academic Research Alliances and maintain close relations with approximately 250 universities, institutes and individual research groups around the world. Collaboration is all about bringing the right people together to find answers to the big challenges of today.