DSM partners with ERDA in India to develop innovative and sustainable engineering plastics solutions for the electrical industry

Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Electrical Research & Development Association (ERDA), a cooperative research institution created by the Indian electrical industry and utilities, to cover basic research in the field of electrical applications. This move underlines DSM's focus on developing strategic partnerships around the world to drive innovation and the highest standards of sustainability. DSM has a strong record of development and production of engineering plastics for electrical applications, and is a leading global supplier of high performance polyamides and polyesters for the sector; ERDA has state-of-the-art test facilities dedicated to the electrical industry. Both organizations share a strong commitment to in-depth research by highly qualified people, and expect mutually beneficial collaboration across several disciplines. DSM and ERDA will cooperate in three areas in particular: firstly, they will engage in joint development projects on various topics of mutual interest, focusing on new innovations and studies that can have a positive impact on the environment, performance and affordability; secondly, technology testing programs will be established to prove that materials meet application requirements; and finally, exchange programs will be set up to enhance the capabilities and knowledge of both organizations. “A technical partnership between DSM, with its specialization in engineering plastic materials and understanding of customer needs, and ERDA, with its competence in application engineering in the electrical engineering domain, forms an ideal launch pad to yield improved products for the market,” says ERDA Director T.P. Govindan. “It is hoped that the synergy in the partnership will prove beneficial to both partners and society at large. We look forward to making the partnership a defining milestone for both of us.” At DSM, Rein Borggreve, Global Research & Technology Director for Engineering Plastics, highlights the group’s extensive network of partnerships with the best universities and institutes around the globe. “We are very excited about entering into this new cooperation with ERDA, a leading institute in the field of electrical applications,” he says. “We are confident that it will lead to innovative solutions on performance and sustainability.” “DSM applies Bright Science to make people’s lives better, safer, easier and healthier. We continue to develop sustainable and innovative solutions that address key global challenges, based on our portfolio of high performance materials for many different markets and applications, and obviously the electrical sector is a very important area of interest for us.” Sanjay Jain, DSM’s Business Director for Engineering Plastics in India, says: “The partnership with ERDA will further explore the use of engineering plastics beyond today’s frontiers in the electrical industry by providing innovative sustainable solutions, further reinforcing the leadership and knowledge base that both parties have in the industry today.”