"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."
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.
The company operates in three areas: BioPharma develops recombinant and plasma-based proteins;other biopharmaceutical products, including vaccinesand technologies used in adult stem cell therapies.
Hospital Care provides intravenous solutions and specialty products used for fluid management, anaesthesia, parenteral nutrition support, pain management, antibiotic therapy, chemotherapy and delivery systems as well as biosurgery products and regenerative medicine.
Renal develops products and provides services for renal replacement therapies for patients with chronic kidney disease.
Baxter’s first overseas operations were established in Belgium in 1954. Today, Baxter employs 2,250 people in Belgium and operates a very large manufacturing plant as well as a European distribution centre in Lessines. The European Research & Development Center and the Belux headquarters are located in Braine-l’Alleud.
