#Research & Development

2023-08-31

SABIC celebrates 10th Anniversary of its Technology Center in Shanghai with first Innovation Day

SABIC, a global leader in diversified chemicals, yesterday celebrated the 10th anniversary of the SABIC Technology Center in Shanghai (STC Shanghai) by holding the site’s first-ever Innovation Day.

SABIC Chairman Khalid Hashim Al-Dabbagh and SABIC CEO Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh celebrated this remarkable milestone with his excellency Abdulrahman Bin Ahmed Hamdan Al-Harbi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to China; Zhu Zhisong, Member of Standing Committee of CPC Shanghai, Secretary of CPC Pudong New Area Committee; Peng Song, Executive Deputy Director of Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Promotion Office; Wu Qiang, Deputy Governor of Shanghai Pudong New Area, along with SABIC executive committee, customers, and business partners.

“Multinational corporations would diligently work with others across different industries and in different countries to build up a portfolio of innovative solutions that can turn challenges into opportunities,” said Al-Fageeh. “One of the most active fronts in our campaign for innovation is right here, at the STC Shanghai. SABIC looks forward to strengthening its in-country relationships and remains firmly committed to fostering mutually beneficial economic growth in and through China.”

Established in 2013 as one of the key regional hubs and 19 global technology centers, STC Shanghai is a key part of SABIC’s global innovation network. Today, the center has 20 laboratories with three focus areas including Analytical Science, EMT (extrusion, molding & testing) and Application Technology & Industry Solutions. Over 500 employees work at the center, including more than 170 scientists, who focus on helping customers address challenges across focused segments such as automotive, building and construction, packaging, electrical and electronics, healthcare, personal hygiene and energy transition. Leveraging value-chain collaboration and partnerships with renowned universities and research institutes in China, STC Shanghai also helps drive in-depth integration between industry and academia to further support China’s high-level, innovation-driven development.

In addition to being a key source of collaborative innovation, STC Shanghai has also played an important role in SABIC’s engagement with the local community. In 2017, SABIC launched its River Conservation Program, drawing on STC Shanghai’s expertise to help improve the local community’s natural ecosystem. Over the past decade, SABIC has held several Open-to-Public (OTP) Days and ‘Lights of Our Future’ activities at the center. These events, which were made possible by SABIC local employees volunteering over 9,000 hours to provide public education services on sustainability topics, reached a total of 11,840 students from 42 local schools in Shanghai.

Innovation is the foundation on which SABIC has built its success and the core driving force of its development in China for almost 40 years. It is through innovation that SABIC has successfully delivered rapid growth and expanded its network in China to include not only the STC Shanghai but also two joint ventures and three compounding plants with operations in 17 cities. Through its ongoing focus on market-facing innovation marked by the 10th anniversary of the STC Shanghai, SABIC remains firmly committed to expanding its presence in China, contributing to the country’s high-quality development, and supporting the strategic alignment between Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

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PERFORMANCE DAYS announces new focus topic & forums for October 2026

With its upcoming October 13–14, 2026 edition, PERFORMANCE DAYS is placing the spotlight on one of the textile industry’s most important transformations: “Bio-Based Materials – From Fiber to Fabric”, a two-part Focus Topic exploring the future of bio-based innovation across the textile value chain. Part 1, presented in October 2026, will focus on fibers and next-generation material developments, while Part 2 at the March 2027 edition will shift the perspective toward dyeing, finishing, additives, and processing technologies.