Vision 2010 – Building on Strengths , DSM’s new strategy for the next five years that was presented yesterday, has a strong focus on accelerating market-driven growth and innovation and on New Business Development. In this context an Innovation Center will be established at corporate level to accelerate and support innovation.

The Innovation Center will be managed by a newly created position of a Chief Innovation Officer. The DSM Managing Board of Directors has appointed Mr Dr. Rob van Leen (48), at present Business Group Director of the DSM Food Specialties business group, to be the company’s Chief Innovation Officer. It is expected that Mr Van Leen will assume his new position in the first quarter of 2006.

The Innovation Center will comprise, amongst other things, a Corporate Technology office, an Innovation Competence Center and an Innovation Shared Service Center (including corporate licensing, venturing and intellectual property activities) and will lead the Emerging Business Area programs (Personalized Nutrition, Biomedical Materials, Specialty Packaging and White – or industrial – Biotechnology).

Rob van Leen has worked for DSM since 1987. He held various positions in the company including: Business Group Director of DSM Food Specialties, Business Unit Director of DSM Dairy Ingredients and Technology Director of R&D at DSM Food Specialties. Mr Van Leen has a PhD in Mathematics and Physics from Nijmegen University and an MSc in Biologics from Utrecht University. He also holds an MBA degree from Nyenrode University.