BYK Additives & Instruments Marks Presence with Research Facility

Dubai-UAE: 14 February, 2012 - Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech), the Life Sciences hub in the Middle East and a member of TECOM Investments, today announced BYK Additives & Instruments, leading supplier of additives for the coating, inks and plastics industry, has launched their laboratory and research facility at the park.

BYK Additives & Instruments is the first chemical company to set up operations at DuBiotech. The German-based company is a global market leader in the manufacturing of additives used in paint and plastics applications. BYKs additives are found in applications such as architectural, automotive and most industrial paints, inks and varnishes. Also, BYK Additives & Instruments is a supplier for industrial applications and other industries such as adhesives and inkjet. BYK Additives & Instruments additionally manufactures a range of technical instruments used in the paint and coatings industries.

The announcement came during an opening ceremony held at DuBiotech, which was attended by His Excellency Klaus Ranner, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Dubai, Dr Amina Al Rostamani, CEO of TECOM Business Parks, Dr Uwe Zakrzewski, Managing Director Marketing and Sales, BYK-Chemie GmbH, Dr Ayesha Abdullah, Managing Director, Dubai Healthcare City, and Marwan Abdulaziz, Business Development Director, DuBiotech. Senior management from the two companies, TECOM Investments representatives, as well as DuBiotech's current business partners and potential customers of BYK were also present on the occasion.

Dr Uwe Zakrzewski said: "The high demand from our industry customers based in the Middle East as well as DuBiotech's offer of world-class facilities and services encouraged us to set up our laboratory at the life sciences park.

"We are confident that this initiative will help us provide our customers in the region with comprehensive technical support as well as innovative products and solutions that complement their manufacturing requirements and enhance the quality and efficiency of their portfolio. Such products include coatings that help decrease the room temperature especially during the hot summers, which is particularly relevant to this region."

Marwan Abdul Aziz said: "We are pleased to welcome BYK Additives & Instruments to DuBiotech as the first industrial biotech company in the free zone. BYK Additives & Instruments takes us closer to our goal of shaping a destination for the entire biotechnology value chain, which includes the healthcare, agriculture, marine and industry sectors.

"Industrial biotechnology is a key sector of growth for DuBiotech as it holds the potential to transform materials in amazing ways and creates the opportunity to use alternatives of oil and reuse waste with the lowest possible use of energy. For instance, oils secreted by microalgae can be harvested and used as biofuels, while sugar from beet and cane can be converted into biodegradable plastics for food packaging."

A recent report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) concluded that converting biomass into fuels, energy and chemicals has the potential to generate over US$230 billion to the global economy by 2020. Closer to home, the value of the rapidly growing bio-chemicals sector in the Middle East region is around US$10.6 billion, according to BioPlan's newly released A Quick Guide™ to Healthcare and Biotechnology in the Middle East.

Launched in 2005, DuBiotech offers a stream-lined and facilitating environment for major players in the life sciences industry to set up their operations and access the fast-growing, emerging markets of the region. In 2010, DuBiotech opened the high-tech Nucleotide Laboratory complex and warehousing facilities. The park currently hosts over 86 life sciences companies including Pfizer, Amgen, Merck Serono, Bristol-Myers Squibb, MAQUET, Genzyme, Firmenich and IFF.

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About DuBiotech
Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech), a member of TECOM Investments, is a pioneering life sciences cluster in the Middle East.

Since its launch in 2005, DuBiotech has rapidly grown into a community of 86 life sciences companies such as Pfizer, Genzyme, Merck-Serono, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Maquet, National Reference Lab, Firmenich and IFF. 

The park enjoys a strategic location and offers world-class facilities including offices, laboratories, warehouses and land plots. It also provides business partners with free zone benefits such as 100 per cent foreign ownership, zero per cent taxes, a full repatriation of profits and capital, exemption from customs duty for goods and services, as well as international legal and regulatory best practices.

DuBiotech extends unique services that include regulatory affairs management, partner development, registration and licensing, as well as leasing and government services to facilitate the growth of the local and international companies operating out of the park. Through these privileges, DuBiotech sets itself apart as a premium destination for life sciences ventures to establish their operations and access the fast growing, emerging markets of the region. 

For further information on DuBiotech, please visit our website: www.dubiotech.ae  

For more information please contact:
Sara Darwish
APCO Worldwide (JiWin Public Relations)
Tel: +971 4 3748368
Mobile: +971 50 3839342
Email: sdarwish@apcoworldwide.com

 

© Press Release 2012