Clarion Events Middle East (The World Refining Association) on Monday announced Dr Trevor Hutley, General Manager of Product and Technology Development, Saudi International Petrochemical Company (Sipchem), will address the Middle East Chemical Week (MECW) 2011 on the need for innovation in the GCC petrochemical industry. Dr Trevor Hutley is responsible for creating the R&D dimension of Sipchem, with a primary focus on the creation of the new Sipchem Polymer Product and Application Development Centre (PADC), which will open in 2012 at the Dhahran Techno Valley in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He will deliver a presentation at MECW 2011 on Oct. 17, on his experiences in developing this new R&D centre.Dr Trevor Hutley, General Manager of Product and Technology Development, Sipchem, commented: “Even a private company can take a bold step and set up their own R&D centre to take control of their future”.On building a sustainable downstream industry in the GCC, he said: “My analysis of the situation is that companies like us (petrochemical producers) need to focus more on the downstream industry. Cluster programmes (such as the National Industrial Cluster Development Programme in Saudi Arabia) are starting to contribute to the development of the downstream industry.” From / Gulf Today