03.11.16
In the last five years, 3M has invested nearly $8.5 billion in research and development, the symbolic heartbeat of the company, that will help nurture fresh and innovative ideas. The company continues to increase that investment. It now spends 5.8% of its sales on R&D, up from 5.3% in 2011.
“Finding innovative solutions doesn’t happen by accident, you must devote time, energy and capital to encourage a culture where people feel empowered to look for them,” said Ashish Khandpur, 3M SVP of R&D and CTO.
Now, 3M is strengthening its scientific capabilities even more with the opening of its new, 470,000 square foot state-of-the-art R&D lab at its headquarters in St. Paul, MN. The $150 million investment will enhance collaboration and technology sharing even further throughout the company.
“This space represents an opportunity to work differently,” said Lee Stanek, product commercialization manager, 3M Aerospace and Commercial Transportation. “Sometimes that’s enough to cause you to think in a different way. Just like visiting customers, you see things in new ways. We are working in a different space, collaborating with different people – we don’t know yet what can happen.”
The new lab will bring together scientists and researchers from multiple 3M businesses under one roof, opening up endless collaborative ways to combine the company’s 46 technology platforms to create new and useful solutions for customers.
“Finding innovative solutions doesn’t happen by accident, you must devote time, energy and capital to encourage a culture where people feel empowered to look for them,” said Ashish Khandpur, 3M SVP of R&D and CTO.
Now, 3M is strengthening its scientific capabilities even more with the opening of its new, 470,000 square foot state-of-the-art R&D lab at its headquarters in St. Paul, MN. The $150 million investment will enhance collaboration and technology sharing even further throughout the company.
“This space represents an opportunity to work differently,” said Lee Stanek, product commercialization manager, 3M Aerospace and Commercial Transportation. “Sometimes that’s enough to cause you to think in a different way. Just like visiting customers, you see things in new ways. We are working in a different space, collaborating with different people – we don’t know yet what can happen.”
The new lab will bring together scientists and researchers from multiple 3M businesses under one roof, opening up endless collaborative ways to combine the company’s 46 technology platforms to create new and useful solutions for customers.
