DuPont Performance Materials (DPM) will extend its existing partnership with the Aachen Centre for Integrative Lightweight Production (AZL) to a “Premium Partnership” and for the first time ever co-locate its research activities on the RWTH Aachen University campus.

The decision to co-locate at AZL is part of DuPont’s ongoing commitment to collaborative research with academic institutions and industry partners with a view to matching market needs with commercially viable innovation. 

“Co-locating our activities in Aachen is a first ever in Europe for DPM and represents a paradigm shift in how we do research and new business development,” said Ernst Poppe, Business Development Manager DuPont Performance Materials.

Partnership

DuPont is a founding partner of AZL, which was founded in addition to the existing lightweight institutes at RWTH Aachen University to meet the increasing demand for mass production of lightweight, highly stable, chemically resistant components mainly transportation-related applications.

With co-locating on the RWTH Aachen University, DuPont Performance Materials aims at better access to the work of AZL research partners, such as the world renowned Plastics Processing Institute (IKV). The co-location will also foster further collaboration and ideas generation with other companies based on site, the manufacturer reports.

New level

“We are extremely excited that our excellent long-term partnership with DuPont is taking a step up to a new level,” said University Professor Dr.-Ing. Christian Hopmann, Head of the Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV) and Founding Professor of the AZL.

“We believe that the proximity will be a rich source of inspiration for all parties involved and that DuPont can take better advantage of AZL and IKV´s research excellence and its scientific and industrial network to grow its business.”

As a service included in its Premium Partnership, the AZL offers companies office space in close proximity to the AZL institutes. This AZL co-location service is additionally to the regular AZL Partnership services, such as the cooperation and exchange with partner institutes and companies along the complete lightweight value chain within workshops and workgroups or individual consultancy in public funding options, as well as support in Marketing and HR.

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