Success in research by innovative concepts

Roughly 15 % of the research and development budget are used by Creavis to fund research projects. Those research and development projects range from medium risk to high risk. Creavis researchers are developing tomorrow’s technologies and products within specified project time frames of 3-5 years. The name Creavis Technologies & Innovation stands for an innovative corporate culture: creative young scientists of various disciplines working together at the gateway of research and business, finding innovative solutions for the future. Flexible structures create room for new and creative ideas.

Particularly fundamental research topics with medium risk, affecting more than just one business unit, are worked on in the so-called Project Houses. For a time span of three years, researchers who are part of the business units involved with the Project Houses get together to deal with the research top-ics of the corresponding Project House. 50% of the Project Houses’ cost is funded by Corporate, the other 50% by the business units involved. After passage of three years, researchers return to their business units with the knowledge acquired from the project.

Research topics with high risk, representing entirely new fields for Evonik, are worked on in the Science-to-Business centers (S2B center) by Creavis. The concept of S2B center is based on the integration of all R&D activities across the value chain under one roof – starting from basic research to product development and up to pilot production. The goal is to develop new businesses up to the point of producing complete systems for the end-user.

So-called internal start-ups serve the purpose of turning promising projects from the Science-to-Business centers and Project Houses into sustainable businesses. The segment develops the business from the ground up until revenues and earnings of a typical middle-range product line can be realized.