Press releases
Baxter Opens New Research & Development Facility in Alliance Park, Belgium
Facility Provides 15,500 Square Metre Office and Laboratory Space
Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium, 17 June, 2010 - Baxter today moved its Research & Development facility, including commercial and administrative offices, to Parc de l'Alliance (Alliance Park), Braine l'Alleud, based south of Brussels, Belgium. One of three Research & Development facilities in Europe, Alliance Park represents a major milestone for Baxter operations in Belgium, and strengthens the company's capacity to continue developing leading-edge technologies and products.
The facility merges two organizations located previously in Brussels and in Nivelles and houses 430 employees currently. The location is unique in that its activities cover all stages of a product's life cycle from conception to registration. In this facility, the organization will further increase efficiency and effectiveness in the early phases of bringing new therapies to the market.
"Baxter has a rich history in Belgium having opened the first offices outside the US in 1954 and the first plant in Lessines in 1970. Alliance Park provides a critical step forward in Baxter's future by aligning multiple functions in one area, thereby encouraging more ideas to develop into solutions that serve healthcare professionals and patients," said Baxter Corporate Vice President and President, International Ludwig Hantson.
Focus on Early-Stage Research and Product Development
The new Research & Development location in Alliance Park will provide Baxter Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) with a Research & Development infrastructure that will meet upcoming demands for product development and registration. To remain competitive with leading technological innovation, Baxter Alliance Park teams also conduct joint research with leading European research universities and organizations in Belgium as well as in Lille and Paris, France.
"With a goal of providing solutions to hospitals, doctors, healthcare providers and patients, the Research & Development organization is vital to advancing Baxter's current technologies and developing new innovations. Currently, Baxter is advancing clinical trials and numerous early-stage programs that have the potential to profoundly impact the treatment and delivery of care for chronic diseases, like Alzheimer's disease, hemophilia, end-stage renal disease, immune deficiencies, as well as public health threats like pandemic and seasonal influenza," said General Manager of Baxter Belgium Jo Benoit.
Researchers at Baxter Alliance Park concentrate on the development of new technologies and projects, including solutions for Peritoneal Dialysis, recombinant and plasma-based therapeutics, vaccines, initiatives in regenerative medicine, parenteral nutrition, and enhanced packaging systems for the company's Medication Delivery and BioScience global business units.
As part of the official opening ceremonies at the new facility, Baxter hosted numerous local and international dignitaries and unveiled a commemorative plaque with an engraving of Baxter's mission to save and sustain lives worldwide. Additionally, the company hosted a half-day symposium, "Healthcare: From Hospital to Home" with leading researchers from throughout the area to emphasize the need for better patient care both in the hospital and importantly, at home where more and more products are being developed to help patients with therapies for on-going conditions. Findings from the symposium will be released by press release on June 23, 2010.
Baxter's Commitment to Research & Development
Through continued innovation, investment and collaboration, Baxter seeks to advance new therapies, improve the safety and cost-effectiveness of treatments and expand access to care. Baxter has six "core technical competencies" that differentiate the company and provide competitive advantages in the marketplace including medical plastics, biologics, drug delivery, solutions, and sterilization and hardware/software solutions. Each core competency represents a specialized area of technical expertise and leadership that enable the company to develop and manufacture unique healthcare products.
About Baxter
Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. As a global, diversified healthcare company, Baxter applies a unique combination of expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to create products that advance patient care worldwide.
