First DuPont Innovation Centre in the US facilitates collaboration with global automotive industry

Troy, Michigan, October 30, 2012: DuPont opened its eighth Innovation Centre inside its Automotive Development Center here earlier this month to provide an environment for collaboration with customers, government, academia and business partners. The Troy Innovation Centre connects the Detroit-area customer base with 9,500 DuPont scientists and engineers around the globe.

“Auto customers’ expectations for energy efficiency and performance continually increase. The automotive industry must increase the rate at which new technologies are adopted,” said DuPont executive vice-president and chief innovation officer Thomas M Connelly. “DuPont R&D excels when we are able to collaborate with our customers. Our Innovation Centre at Troy will accelerate introduction of new products and applications in support of the automotive industry.”

The opening featured a panel of thought leaders which discussed how the multiple technologies designed to improve vehicle fuel economy and lower carbon dioxide emissions are changing value-chain relationships and demanding higher-performance materials. The panel, facilitated by IHS Automotive Consulting managing director Mike Robinet, featured FEV, Inc, president and CEO Gary Rogers, chairman emeritus of the Centre for Automotive Research and Auto Harvest CEO David Cole, as well as DuPont’s Connelly.

“The auto industry is developing a number of technologies that respond to customer desire for great efficiency and for even better driving experiences. DuPont is responding with new materials that will meet the future needs of the industry,” said Connelly. “Our Troy Innovation Centre is Detroit’s gateway to DuPont technology worldwide. This centre will promote even closer collaboration with our partners in the auto industry.”

DuPont offers more than 100 materials and product families for the global automotive industry. Through its global application development network, DuPont is collaborating with customers throughout the value chain to develop new innovations, materials, components and systems that help reduce dependence on fossil fuels and protect people and the environment. This is DuPont’s fourth Innovation Centre focused on automotive. The others are located in Pune, India; Seoul, Korea; and Nagoya, Japan.

Photograph caption: (L-R): Alexa Dembek, regional director, DPP; Mike Day, DuPont Automotive; Michael Robinet, managing director, IHS Automotive Consulting; Gary Rogers, president & CEO, FEV, Inc; Thomas Connelly, EVP and CIO, DuPont; Shana Weisberg, development specialist, DuPont; and Bill Weber, regional director, DPT.