Cooperative Research - Formula for Success

Throughout BASF’s history, prominent research milestones result from collaborations with scientists, universities or research institutes. However, these collaborations only recently begin to enjoy strategic significance.

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Indigo, the King of Dyes

In the 19^th century, Indigo is the most important natural blue dye. One of the reasons why BASF wins the race against other dye producers to synthesize the “king of dyes” is its successful integration of outside impulses in its own research. In 1800, BASF acquires the patent of Adolf von Baeyer (1835-1917), professor of chemistry in Munich. His process, however, soon proves to be uneconomic. New impetus form outside is received from Karl Heumann (1850-1894), professor of chemistry in Zurich, in 1890. His synthesis enables BASF to launch "Indigo pure BASF" onto the market in 1897 – far ahead of all competitors.

Domestication of Nitrogen

Around 1900, the chemical industry and science investigate the possibility of fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Only in its fixed form can it be used as a nutrient by most plants. Cooperation and an interdisciplinary approach point the way to success: In 1908, the work of Fritz Haber (1868-1934), professor of chemistry in Karlsruhe, indicates that fixation of nitrogen (by synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen) may be feasible. BASF charges Carl Bosch (1874-1940) with transferring the process to industrial scale. Being trained as a chemist and engineer, he offers the essential combination of know-how of both disciplines. This is because such a high pressure as required by Haber's process is totally new to chemical industry in those days. By realizing the first ammonia synthesis worldwide in 1913 Carl Bosch turns BASF into a pioneer of high pressure technology.

The Long Road to Vitamin A Synthesis

BASF research director Walter Reppe (1892–1969) commissions Horst Pommer (1919–1987) to develop a new process for synthesizing vitamin A based on acetylene in 1953. Vitamins become increasingly important during this time, especially to produce animal food. BASF succeeds in actually synthesizing vitamin A from acetylene by 1955, but the process is not cost-efficient. The key impulse finally comes from outside the company through a discovery from university research, the so-called Wittig reaction, which is later awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. With the practical implementation of this new synthesis process, BASF breaks new ground in technical processes. After commissioning a small production plant with a capacity of 30 tons/year, it takes another 6 years for production to commence at the first large-scale plant for vitamin A and E in Ludwigshafen in 1970.

Following Nature’s Example

In close consultation with university researchers fungicide experts from BASF take advantage of a system that fungi evolved in order to keep predators away. The fungus-killing is discovered in the 1970s by Dr. Timm Anke at Kaiserlautern University. Anke names it Strobilurin A. Its decoding is achieved by Wolfgang Steglich, a chemistry professor at Bonn University. BASF recognizes the potential for protecting plants so that Dr. Hubert Sauter and his team take up their research on strobilurines in 1983. BASF can apply to patent the substance called kresoxim-methyl in 1986 – just two days before the competition. Its synthesis is a milestone in fungicide research. First products from the new class of active ingredients are launched onto the market in 1996, including the mildew fungicide Brio.

In the very beginning, BASF manufactures products under license or copies already known processes but recognizes that this strategy is not sufficient for a sustainable future. In-house scientific research is essential for innovative products.

Therefore, BASF names Heinrich Caro (1834–1910) the first head of research in 1868, only three years after its founding. The cornerstone is laid for the continued expansion of BASF’s own research and for the resulting development of numerous innovative products. In this way, BASF represents the “scientification” of the economy starting in the nineteenth century – a perfect example of chemistry as “science based industry.”

At the same time, BASF’s example shows that the exchange of knowledge between industry and science provides important impulses. Successful cooperation with academic research⎵runs like a golden thread through its history. Some outstanding BASF innovations, such as ammonia synthesis, only come about through collaboration with external scientists.

Unlike today, these collaborations maintain a selective character for a long time, are not developed in a systematic manner, and do not enjoy strategic significance. This is also true for BASF researchers engaging in interdisciplinary collaboration. From today’s perspective, this is a matter of course but at the start of the 20^th century it is still more of an exception.

In 2018, BASF maintains an international and interdisciplinary research network with around 70 of its own research locations worldwide and around 600 cooperation partners – universities, research institutes, and businesses.