BASF SE : BASF to set up Electronic Materials R&D Center Asia Pacific at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea

• 40 scientific and technical professionals

• Facility to open in 2014

Seoul, SouthKorea and Ludwigshafen, Germany- November 7, 2013-BASF, the world's leading chemical company, intends to set up its new Electronic Materials Research and Development (R&D) Center Asia Pacific in partnership with Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) in Suwon, South Korea. Located within the SKKUcampusaround 30 kilometers from Seoul, the facility will serve as an integrated hub for electronic materials research in the region.The new R&D Center is scheduled to open in 2014.

BASF signed a letter of intent today at a ceremony in Brussels, Belgium, in the presence of Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, Yoon Sang-jick.

"Korea is at the cutting edge of the electronics industry and of electronic materials research. By setting up our new Electronic Materials R&D Center Asia Pacific at Sungkyunkwan University, we will be able to combine BASF's international expertise in electronic materials with the latest advances from top research scientists. This in turn will translate into fast, market-driven innovations for our customers," said Dr. Lothar Laupichler, Senior Vice President Electronics Materials at BASF.

"With an extensive scientific network both in academia and industry, Sungkyunkwan University is the partner of choice for international research and development. SKKU and BASF share a heritage of innovation and a vision of contributing to the development of electronic materials research, and thiscollaboration will support scientific advancement as well as creating benefit for both partners," said Jun Young Kim, President of SKKU.

As part of BASF's global R&D network, the new R&D Center will focus on researching specialty and process chemicals, inorganic materials and formulations for high-performance applications for semiconductors, displays, organic electronics, LEDs and photovoltaics, offering a wide range of innovative solutions for the electronics value chains.

Starting from2014, around 40 scientific and technical professionals will work at the new R&D facilities.Thelabs will be locatedin a building at theNatural Science CampusofSKKU.

BASF is a leading supplier of electronic materials, offering a specialized portfolio of high purity and quality processchemicals as well as dedicated solutions for a range of applications for the electronics industry.

About Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)

SKKU, established in 1398, is among the top-ranking private universities in Korea. With Samsung re-joining in SKKU's management in 1996, SKKU received solid financial and managerial support to realize its academic and research ambitions. SKKU has made substantial advances towards becoming a global leading university.

About BASF

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of €72.1 billion in 2012 and more than 110,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.