Swiss specialty chemicals producer, Clariant, officially opened its new Group Biotechnology Research Center in Planegg near Munich, Germany. Clariant also has an Innovation Center located in Frankfurt. The company noted that industrial biotechnology is one of the key industries of the 21st century.

Since 2006, the Group Biotechnology has successfully implemented projects in the field of renewable raw materials. The focus of this strategic unit is on the development of sustainable bio-based products and processes in the field of chemicals and biofuels.