ChemChina: Innovation brings rewards

State-owned China National Chemical Corp (ChemChina) invested 2.37 percent of its revenues in technology last year, according to the company's recently released 2011 sustainability report.

"With innovation in technology and products bringing breakthroughs, ChemChina leads the entire industry in China in green development," said Ren Jianxin, general manager of the company.

Last year, the company had more than 700 technical research programs, including 164 key national projects.

In addition to traditional basic chemicals, the company is now focusing on emerging sectors, such as new materials, life science and environmental science.

ChemChina has also been encouraging patent applications, but "paying more attention to quality than quantity", the report said.

The chemical giant applied for 740 patents last year, nearly double those in 2009,with invention patents accounting for 55 percent of the number. The company had been granted more than 3,000 patents by the end of last year.

By 2011, ChemChina had two national key laboratories for research and development in marine coatings and use of industrial emissions, as well as seven national-level engineering technology research centers.

Two of its subsidiaries were named National Certified Enterprise Technology Centers last year.

The company has a number of funds and awards to encourage innovation. Nearly 30 patents received awards last year.

It now has partnerships with more than 20 world-leading companies and research organizations. It also has participated in nearly 20 industry associations and 12 strategic alliances for technological innovation.

New products

The sustainability report said that more than 20 percent of ChemChina's output was new products last year.

The world's largest rotary steam tube dryer designed by the company's Tianhua Institute was built at its factory in Nanjing, Jiangsu province last year. It has an annual production capacity of 4 million tons of purified terephthalic acid, an important component in chemical fiber.

The machine costs half as much as similar imported equipment. It has been approved for sale in overseas markets such as the United States, Spain and Belgium due to its top performance and safety, the company said.

zhangzhao@chinadaily.com.cn