LANXESS established its Rubber Research Center in Qingdao in 2008 in close cooperation with Qingdao’s University of Science and Technology (QUST) to strengthen its innovative ability to develop new products and applications as well as enhance existing products.

The research center, jointly operated by the LANXESS business units Technical Rubber Products, Butyl Rubber and Performance Butadiene Rubbers, covers an area of 3,000 sqm in total and provides complete functions including fundamental research facilities, rubber mixing/testing laboratory and a 400 sqm pilot plant.  It provides product development and process engineering services

In research, great success is often achieved in a spirit of mutual cooperation. The research center in Qingdao represents the alliance between LANXESS and QUST. The LANXESS Technical Rubber Products business unit launched a Rubber Excellence Partnership in 2010. Through this program, students at QUST receive lectures and mentoring from professors with the German Institute of Rubber Technology as well as experts from RRCQ. The top two students from within the program will be selected for a customized four-week internship in Germany. In addition, LANXESS experts at RRCQ work hand in hand with a group of QUST researchers to conduct joint research activities on butyl rubber compounding and analysis.