Pharmaceutical and chemical giant Bayer recently expanded its polymer research and development center in Shanghai, making it an innovation center for the Asia-Pacific region.

The state-of-the-art facility using Bayer's global standards focuses on innovations in the use of high-performance plastics, foams and coatings in such key sectors as mobility, construction, IT and renewable energy, according to the company.

The regional hub will become a significant contributor to Bayer MaterialScience's overall global innovation network which aims to become indispensable in terms of competencies, projects and products and reach a global innovation footprint for Bayer MaterialScience and its partners by exporting China-developed technology to the rest of the world by 2020, according to the company.