Apr 17 2009
Through a sustained commitment to research and innovation, industry can continue to deliver significant new materials and solutions to address some of the world's toughest challenges, DuPont Senior Vice President and Chief Science & Technology Officer Uma Chowdhry told a forum of Japan's top chief technology officers yesterday in Tokyo.
Uma Chowdhry in the labs at the Experimental Station in Wilmington, Del.
"From my vantage point, looking across global economies and major markets one thing is clear: continued investment in technology-based innovation will enable the global economy to rebuild," Uma said at the Japan Management Association for DuPont. "Our customers are looking for new ways to do business, to serve their customers, to grow, to become more efficient and to reduce their environmental footprint," Uma added. "Today's success is based on a more strategic exchange with customers and with the entire market system."
DuPont serves a broad set of markets with more than 80 percent of sales in 2008 from six major industries: agriculture and food; motor vehicles; construction; plastics and chemicals; electronics; and aerospace. In 2008, more than 60 percent of DuPont sales were outside the United States and nearly one-third were in emerging regions.
"Agility and speed are needed when you are managing the diversity of the DuPont portfolio. While these are difficult times, this portfolio has never been better positioned to address some of the world's most pressing needs," Uma said.
Uma said DuPont uses its core science and technology competencies in the following areas:
- More and better food
- Alternative energy
- Energy efficiency
- Renewable materials
- Safety and security