Research and development play an important role in the entrepreneurial strategy of AST. In our business, innovation is the driving force behind market share gains and lower costs. The existing capacities are widely used for innovative research, process development, and optimization and implementation of production process for custom synthesis or toll manufacturing. We consider ourselves at the leading edge of applied chemical research and are especially strong in technology transfer. We are strategically located close to four different chemistry schools; each with their own extensive libraries. We are also connected on-line CAS, and possess our own internal library