Arkema opens expanded Shanghai research center for Asian market

French specialty materials manufacturer Arkema officially inaugurated its expanded research and development center in Shanghai on October 15, 2026, according to a press release issued by the company. The inauguration event was attended by executive leadership and government officials from both France and China.

Arkema Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thierry Le Hénaff attended the opening ceremony in Shanghai. French diplomatic officials were also present, including the Consul General of France in Shanghai, alongside local Chinese government representatives who attended the official ceremony.

The research center originally began operations in 2011 as Bostik's Asia Technology Center, dedicated to adhesive solutions. Bostik established the facility 15 years ago to serve regional technical demands. The latest expansion strengthens Shanghai's position as a regional innovation platform for Arkema, designed to serve industrial partners across China and the broader Asian region.

China represents Arkema's second-largest market globally. Arkema stated that the main goal of the facility's expansion is to drive co-development projects in close collaboration with its customers throughout China and Asia.

The expanded Shanghai center features three core research and development capabilities: materials synthesis, formulation development, and application validation. These technical capabilities allow Arkema to synthesize materials, refine chemical formulations, and conduct final application testing within the same facility.

Arkema announced that the facility will focus its research and development efforts on three key target markets across the region. These target markets include high-speed rail, food packaging, and sustainable consumer products. The expanded Shanghai center will focus on accelerating material innovation specifically tailored to these industrial sectors.