Dow Opens Global Water Technology Development Center

“This center represents a significant investment for Dow. It’s a one-of-a-kind facility staffed with leading industry experts to meet one of the world’s most pressing needs – clean water,” said Ian Barbour, general manager, Dow Water & Process Solutions. “The central location is ideal to support our customers in the region and gives us access to the wide variety of water sources, including waste water and seawater, to support product development and performance testing in real world conditions.”

 

“As we celebrate our 50-year anniversary in Spain, this new center reinforces Dow´s commitment to the country,” said Anton Valero, chairman and general manager of Dow Chemical Ibérica. “This project is a continuation of Dow’s robust research and development investment program in Spain, which includes an octane plant and the European Development Center of Excellence for plastics films, both in Tarragona, and with the Technology Center of Polyurethanes Systems in Ribaforada [Navarra].”

 

The Global Water Technology Development Center was funded through a U.S. $15 million Dow investment, along with grant subsidies from Spain’s Ministry of Science and Innovation for research programs in this area, which is in line with the Spanish government’s commitment to research and development in the field of sustainable water supplies.

 

“Dow Chemical is a good example of an industrial group with deep and centuries-old roots that has been able to grow through constant innovation vocation. This advanced technology center will undoubtedly be a source of wealth and new jobs for the region,” said the minister of Science and Innovation, Cristina Garmendia.

 

“Spain offers the best conditions to attract industrial investment and I am convinced that these conditions will help to position this Center as a world reference in R&D in the field of water technology,” added Garmendia. Initial research efforts will be directed to areas such as: