Innovation is the key driver of Bayer’s future growth. That is why Bayer focuses on research and development. In 2012 a total of €3,013 million (2011: €2,932 million) was spent on research and development. This was equivalent to 7.6% (2011: 8.0%) of sales. The number of employees working in research and development worldwide was 12,900.

The importance of global networking and collaboration – both among the units of our enterprise and with external companies and organizations – is steadily increasing. Our life-science areas of HealthCare and CropScience therefore work particularly closely together. We expect common research projects and the joint use of technology platforms to stimulate innovations for the improvement of human, animal and plant health. In addition, research projects with external partners from science and industry form a key component of our innovation strategy. These collaborations and alliances with leading universities, public research institutions and partner companies are supplemented by crowdsourcing, incubators like the CoLaborator™ in the United States, and science hubs in emerging regions such as Asia to tap into external innovative potential using the open innovation approach.

With strong and efficient research and development, an international network of partners and our focus on growth areas and markets, we are laying the foundations for Bayer’s future success. Our activities are centered on our customers’ needs – true to our mission “Bayer: Science For A Better Life.”