Baxter established roots In Belgium in the mid-1950s, when it
became the first company in Belgium to commercially manufacture
sterile intravenous solutions. Today, Baxter remains a leader
in Belgium in providing products that save and sustain lives.
Belgium also continues to be a strategic location for Baxter
manufacturing and research and development (R&D) in Europe.
In June 2010, Baxter opened a new R&D center in Belgium, in
the town of Braine-l'Alleud. Called "Parc de l'Alliance," or
Alliance Park, the facility also will serve as the company's new
Belgium headquarters. The 154,000-square-foot facility brings
together employees from Baxter's previous Belgium R&D facility
in Nivelles and the company's former Belgium headquarters in
Brussels.
"Research and development is one of Baxter's most important
strategic priorities," says Bernhard Kutscher, vice president of
R&D for Baxter in Europe. "With the company's emphasis on
innovation, the new building will provide more space, new
laboratories, and advanced scientific and technical capabilities to
support our product development initiatives going forward."
The R&D staff in Alliance Park consists of scientists,
engineers and technicians involved in a range of R&D activities
for Baxter's three businesses - BioScience, Medication Delivery and
Renal. Areas of expertise include biochemistry, cellular and
molecular biology, histology, pharmaceutical sciences, materials
technology, analytical chemistry, electronic microscopy and various
engineering disciplines.
As Baxter's new Belgium headquarters, Alliance Park also will
house the sales and marketing function, which should help
researchers better understand customer needs from a sales,
marketing and regulatory standpoint.
"Our researchers are involved in new product development from
conception to registration," Kutscher says. "Having everyone
at the same site will facilitate more frequent and direct feedback
between R&D and sales and marketing earlier in the development
process. This will enhance our ability to effectively
prioritize our R&D portfolio and successfully develop products
that address unmet market needs."
Baxter also has a major production facility and distribution
center in Lessines, Belgium. Recent investments have
increased the company's ability to meet growing demand for Baxter's
multi-chamber containers for intravenous nutrition. The
facility also is involved in the filling and finishing of immune
globulin intravenous (IGIV), a plasma-based therapy that provides
increased antibody protection for people with immune deficiencies,
and other products.
"Baxter's R&D center in Nivelles had a long tradition of
innovation, and was involved in the development of many therapies
that Baxter is known for today," says Norbert Riedel, Baxter chief
scientific officer. "Our new R&D center in Alliance Park
will build on this tradition of innovation by providing
state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment to support our growing
product pipeline and technology platforms across all of our
businesses."
SOURCE