BASF, a global chemical giant, said that it plans to set up its Asia-Pacific research and development center on Sungkyunkwan University’s Suwon campus, some 30 kilometers south of Seoul.

The company’s R&D center, slated to open next year, will serve as its hub for the development of innovative electronic materials in collaboration with SKKU’s natural science department.

The German company signed a letter of intent for the project on Thursday with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in Brussels, Belgium, where President Park Geun-hye was on her state visit to the European country.

The center will focus on researching specialty and process chemicals, inorganic materials and formulations for high-performance applications for semiconductors, displays, organic electronics, LEDs and photovoltaic cells.

“By setting up our new Electronic Materials R&D Center Asia-Pacific at Sungkyunkwan University, we will be able to combine BASF’s international expertise in electronic materials with the latest advances from top research scientists. This in turn will translate into fast, market-driven innovations for our customers,” Lothar Laupichler, senior vice president for electronics materials at BASF, said in a statement.

Some 40 technicians and researchers are expected to work at the center’s labs, the chemical company said.

By Park Hyong-ki (hkp@heraldcorp.com)