Innovations produced through The Dow Chemical Company’s (NYSE: DOW) research and development (R&D) engine are driving higher profitability and are recognized throughout the industry globally for their significant impact on solving critical marketplace needs.

Recognized as a Top 100 Global Innovator by Thomson Reuters for four consecutive years, Dow strategically aligns its R&D efforts against key high-growth markets that represent $350 billion in addressable market opportunities. These include consumerism, health and nutrition, infrastructure and transportation, and energy.

Dow’s R&D efforts resulted in more than 560 U.S. patents granted last year – the highest number in the Company’s recent history – and Dow is on track to exceed this level again in 2014. This has a direct impact on the Company’s financial growth:

  • Nearly one-third of revenue in 2013 was derived from new products.
  • Patent-advantaged products generated more than 20 percent of Dow’s sales last year.
  • Dow’s product margin on patent-advantaged sales in 2013 was more than 1,000 basis points better than sales on non-patent advantaged products, representing a 400 basis point improvement from 2010.

“Innovation is what’s driving Dow’s next chapter of growth,” said A.N. Sreeram, corporate vice president of Research & Development. “Our world-class researchers, coupled with our ongoing investment in next-generation technologies, are accelerating our rate of discovery to produce new solutions that address global problems aligned with attractive end markets.”

Year to date, Dow’s new products have earned dozens of honors for transforming markets spanning from food and water to energy and construction. Here are some key highlights from respected third-party associations and media organizations including the American Chemical Society, CNBC, Fast Company and R&D Magazine:

R&D 100 Awards (R&D Magazine)

Dow was recognized for five innovations – the most of any company - and deemed to be among the 100 most significant high-technology products introduced in the past year. Products are: Transform® WG Insecticide and Closer™ SC Insecticide with Isoclast™ Active, TEQUATICTM PLUS Fine Particle Filter, BETAMATE 1630 Structural Adhesive, Garnet 2.0/TERAFORCETM Resin Coated Sand Technology and NEPTUNETM Subsea Insulation System.

Read more: http://www.dow.com/news/press-releases/article/?id=6560

CNBC RQ 50 (CNBC)

Dow was the only company to earn a spot on CNBC’s elite ranking of top 50 companies with the ability to increase revenue from R&D. The ranking uses a unique formula based on publicly available information to link R&D spend to revenue growth and market value.

Read more: http://www.dow.com/news/press-releases/article/?id=6586

Top 10 Most Innovative Company In Energy (Fast Company)

The DOW POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle was noted as a first-of-its-kind product designed to combine the benefits of solar technology with the durability and performance of traditional roofing materials.

Read more: http://www.dow.com/news/press-releases/article/?id=6434

Environmental Stewardship Award (Society of Plastic Engineers)

Dow's recyclable Polyethylene Stand Up Pouch was honored for sustainability in packaging. The product was noted for high tear strength, puncture resistance, cold-temperature tolerance, barrier properties and excellent optics.

Read more: http://www.sperecycling.org/content/gpec%C2%AE-2014-environmental-award-winners

PACE Innovation Partnership Award (Automotive News)

PACCAR and Dow Automotive Systems recognized for having designed, developed and implemented a new manufacturing strategy that utilizes BETAMATE™ Structural Adhesives on untreated aluminum to achieve lightweighting and efficiency goals.

Read more: http://www.dow.com/news/press-releases/article/?id=6483

Ringier Innovation Award (Ringier Trade Media)

Dow’s FORMASHIELD™ Waterborne Acrylic Emulsion honored for its ability to permanently and safely capture airborne formaldehyde emitted from sources such as carpets, furniture, curtains and cigarettes.

Read more: http://www.industrysourcing.com/Page/IA/NewsDetail.aspx?id=3&nid=132

New Product Introduction (NPI) Award (Printed Circuit Design & Fab Magazine)

Dow Electronic Materials honored for the year’s best new product with its MICROFILL™ LVF 3 Acid Copper, enabling lighter and more powerful electronics.

Read more: http://www.dow.com/news/press-releases/article/?id=6504

International Industry Lifetime Achievement Awards (AGROW Awards)

Bill Kleschick, Ph.D., Global Discovery leader, Dow AgroSciences, was awarded Agrow’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors corporate and individual excellence in the crop protection and production industry. Dow AgroSciences was also honored for industry-leading technology and innovation with an international Agrow Award for Isoclast™ Active in the category “Best New Crop Protection Product or Trait.” Isoclast is the sole member of the new sulfoximines chemical class of insecticides and is effective at low use rates.

Read more: http://newsroom.dowagro.com/press-release/kleschick-awarded-international-industry-lifetime-achievement-award

In addition to these and many other product-focused innovation awards in 2014, Dow’s scientists were recognized for their market-focused contributions through prestigious industry awards including the American Chemical Society’s Heroes of Chemistry Award, which honors chemical scientists whose work has led to the successful innovation and development of commercial products. Dow leaders also were honored with the AIChE Process Development Practice Award and the Association of Oil Chemists' 2014 Samuel Rosen Memorial Award. To learn more about Dow’s Innovation awards, visit www.dow.com/innovation.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2013, Dow had annual sales of more than $57 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.