In order to expand competitiveness and create more value for the entire production chain, in 2004 Braskem created the Braskem Innovation Program (PIB) comprised of a structured management system that gathers the best innovation management practices by prioritizing resources. This system receives ideas and transforms them into possible new products or applications for the market after an assessment of their potential to generate value, always in line with company strategy.

"The program’s return is already a reality. Today the ideas posted in this system represent 17% of company revenues generated by resins launched over the past three years," underscores Antonio Queiroz, director of competitiveness and innovation at Braskem, who adds: "Innovation is in the company's DNA."

The proposals put in the idea management database go through a selection process before they are transformed into projects. In this initial phase, basic requirements are assessed, such as commercial attractiveness, strategic fitness and installation feasibility. The ideas with the best balance considering these requirements are validated and become projects that are then worked on in the following phases: preliminary analysis, feasibility study, development, validation - tests at clients - and launch.

In all of them, the multidisciplinary committee on innovation analyzes what was developed and approves what moves on to the next phase, until the project is fully implemented.  "Innovation is part of our culture. Our professionals breathe this theme and this has strongly contributed towards company results," ensures the director.

According to Queiroz, with its acquisitions of Politeno and Ipiranga, Braskem expanded its competences in the innovation area. Professionals came with both companies who add value to our idea and project database, further widening our range of possibilities in the polymer area. "They have brought new technical competence, experience and a different perspective about some markets and projects," he explains.

From when the program was created to the first quarter of this year, the teams involved have already posted 1220 ideas in the system, 420 of which have become projects and 120 of which have been launched in the market. This number reveals the commitment of Braskem’s business areas with sustained growth through innovation.

The result is greater than the world average found in literature for innovation processes, which does not exceed 2%. In other words, of every 1000 ideas, 20 become successfully launched projects, according to references in specialized literature. At Braskem, this number reaches 10%. "This high rate of idea utilization shows the commitment of Braskem teams with innovation as a means to expand the company’s competitiveness in the domestic and international markets.

"This quarter, we have already broken the record for launches when compared to the 1st quarters of past years since the creation of PIB," says Queiroz, showing Braskem’s confidence in the market, despite the current moment of the global economy.  "The 13 projects launched in the first quarter of 2009 are responsible for 23% of the value creation goal for innovation for this year in the polymer area," adds Patrick Teyssonneyre, manager of the Center of Technology and Innovation and responsible for PIB execution and accompaniment.

Over the past five years, 100% of the projects launched in the market in PP, PE and PVC stem from PIB, such as the Norvic S80SA resin in the PVC area. This resin replaces rubber in the manufacturing of footwear components when greater mechanical resistance is required.

In PE, an excellent case is the ML 3610N resin - now being launched at Brasilplast - specially developed for high performance applications in rotomolding, such as cisterns and large volume tanks. The result is a product with excellent balance between rigidity and resistance to impact, as well as high environmental stress-cracking resistance (ESCR).

With PP we can underscore the Braskem Symbios line, developed to meet the thermal sealable film market for automatic packaging processes.  Braskem Symbios products are thermo polymers that aim at reducing sealing temperature and have good performance in the metallization process.

"All these launches came to strengthen the market and open segments where polymers sold by Braskem were not present, such as the market for large volume rotomolding technical pieces," says the manager.