Research in the polymer field is indeed very wide-ranging, since it covers not only structural polymers such as might immediately spring to mind. Naturally, structural polymers are included in our research, which includes working with polyurethanes, foams like Styropor® and Styrodur® and thermoplastics such as polystyrene and polyamide. Functional polymers and dispersions also offer exciting research challenges. Our activities in the fields of polymer physics, polymer technology and analysis are of central importance, since these disciplines are indispensable for producing solutions for each of the product classes mentioned.

In my experience, the characteristic feature of polymer research is that it is possible to practice high-quality science while being dedicated to developing products with the greatest possible practical benefits for our customers. Working in this area of seemingly conflicting priorities is certainly a challenge, but it also makes polymer research a very stimulating occupation.
Moreover, we are constantly encountering new, fascinating possibilities: year by year we are improving our ability to produce polymers with specific properties in a highly selective manner by molecular design. Using a small number of well known, cost-effective components coupled with efficient technologies and intelligent management, we can rapidly and simply generate the solutions demanded by the market and rewarded by customers.

The importance of innovations in polymers is obvious if one just stops to consider how all-pervasive they have become in our daily life. For example, mobile phones would hardly be conceivable without tough, attractive but also low-cost housings of plastic. Or again, what would the automotive industry be without polymers? And another example: building: in houses, extremely effective insulating materials made from polymers reduce heat loss and help to significantly reduce oil and gas consumption.

Moreover, the "invisible" polymers help enhance, protect, connect or modify many everyday products: they make paper tear-resistant, diapers absorbent and provide flexible hold for hair. They make sure that labels stick properly and can be removed again and make asphalt tougher and therefore safer. During washing, polymers also prevent scale from forming in washing machines and on clothing, and prevent deposits building up in automobile engines.

All this means that innovations deriving from polymer research have a direct impact on the quality of life of many people.

The most important stimulus for innovation comes from the constantly changing needs of the markets, which repeatedly introduce new momentum even into product areas of apparently exhausted potential. To name just one, particularly important factor: a criterion which has now been placed on products and processes for some time is environmental compatibility. This means, for example, organic solvents have to be replaced by water. This has set in motion a dynamic research and innovation process, because changing the solvent usually means having to use a completely new polymer system.

Another permanent driving force for innovations: efficient processes are a central success factor for a company. On the one hand, they pay dividends in the form of cost benefits and associated competitive advantages while on the other hand an efficient process is also a resource conserving and environmentally friendly process. This is another reason for our constant dedication to further improving our processes by introducing innovations.

The complex relationship between polymer structure and properties opens up a great potential for innovations. At present we have only a partial understanding of this relationship and new insights will allow us to create polymers with new properties.
With polymers, the properties depend not only on the chemistry of the components, but also on the type of polymerization, the processing and the target application. A deeper knowledge of this interplay and the development of new methods of polymerization are increasingly making it possible to create new property profiles and areas of application based on existing monomers.

In my opinion, polymer research will develop along the following lines in the years ahead:

• New analytical, physical and theoretical methods will steadily deepen our understanding of the relationships between polymer manufacture, structures and properties.
  
• New catalysts in association with innovative technologies will result in a shortening of the value-added chains; i.e. fewer finishing steps will be needed between cracker products and end polymers.
  
• The era of world-scale plants has passed its zenith. The future lies in miniaturizing world-scale capacities, i.e. in reactions with a high space-time yield.
  
• Even closer linkage between organic synthesis, catalysis, polymer chemistry, polymer physics, process technology, processing and application will accelerate the trend towards customized structure-molecule design.