DuPont Launched New Innovation Center in Iowa

DuPont opened its Johnston Innovation Center, the company’s second innovation center in the United States and 12th around the world, focusing on the company’s unique integrated science capabilities across the food, agriculture and energy value chains.

“DuPont has a history of innovation and scientific discovery. Today, we are creating solutions to address the world’s big challenges of feeding and protecting a growing global population and reducing reliance on fossil fuels,” said Chair and Chief Executive Officer Ellen Kullman.  “The key is to quickly connect our integrated science to the market. The Innovation Centers enable DuPont to harness its global science capabilities to create local solutions that are tailored to meet the most pressing market needs.  In just two years, we have generated more than 225 active projects from this model. The DuPont Johnston Innovation Center provides a unique environment for collaboration among more than 10,000 DuPont scientists and engineers with customers, government officials, academics and business partners around the world.”

The 3,500 square foot space and adjoining collaboration room showcases the latest company technology, applications and products created to meet the world’s biggest challenges, including food security, energy and protection. During the opening event, Kullman also announced two recent DuPont projects in Iowa that further demonstrate the company’s commitment to growing its research capacity globally in order to address the demands of a growing world population.  DuPont Pioneer will break ground on a new research facility, Beaver Creek II, in Johnston in the fall of 2013 – a project that will add 100 new jobs to the Des Moines metro area. Additionally, DuPont is investing over $200 million in its Nevada, Iowa commercial cellulosic ethanol production facility. The construction of the facility will employ over 1,000 construction workers.  It will employ over 60 full time jobs and involve hundreds of farmers who will supply the stover to the facility upon completion.

“Iowa is critical to meeting many of the food and energy demands globally, and we are proud to build on our business here in the state,” Kullman said.

Johnston, Iowa, is the 12th Innovation Center for DuPont. Other Innovation Centers have been opened recently in Turkey, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, India, Brazil, Mexico, Michigan, Russia and Switzerland.