First edition of Chemstart’up Award: Arkema and Chemparc reward the young company Borochem

09/01/2010    Press Release

Arkema and Chemparc have now awarded the very first Chemstart’up prize to the company Borochem. Teamed up with the 2010 Pierre Potier Prize, this award was launched to assist with the development of young innovative chemical companies at the service of sustainable development. With backing from Fédération Française pour les Sciences de la Chimie and Union des Industries Chimiques, this award is organized under the aegis of the French Ministry for Industry.

As part of the launch at the end of 2010 of the Chemstart’up platform devised by the Chemparc public interest group with the purpose of hosting, in the Lacq region, fledgling innovative companies specializing in fine chemicals and in materials chemistry, this prize rewards an innovative chemical startup company with genuine potential for industrial development and job creation.

Borochem’s dossier was selected by the judges of the Pierre Potier Prize, and today, following the 2010 Pierre Potier prize presentation, Borochem received from Thierry Le Hénaff, Arkema Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Jacques Jestin, Chemparc Chairman, a cheque for 200,000 euros funded equally by Chemparc and by Arkema.

Arkema’s sponsorship of the Chemparc public interest group reflects the Company’s commitment to contributing to the development of young innovative chemical manufacturers within the Lacq industrial basin.

Borochem is a startup company specializing in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of rare or original organoboron molecules for research by pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries.

Established in July 2003, the Chemparc public interest group aims primarily to develop manufacture in the Lacq basin. It comprises local authorities (Conseil Régional d’Aquitaine, Conseil Général des Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Communauté des Communes de Lacq, Communauté d’Agglomération de Pau), the State, local Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the TOTAL group, UIC Aquitaine, and the LACQ Plus organization. For further information visit  www.chemparc.com - www.chemstartup.com.

A global chemical company, Arkema consists of three businesses: Vinyl Products, Industrial Chemicals, and Performance Products. Arkema reported sales of 4.4 billion euros in 2009. Arkema has 13,800 employees in over 40 countries and 7 research centers located in France, the United States and Japan. With internationally recognized brands, Arkema holds leadership positions in its principal markets.