Shell Innovation Summit Puts Collaboration In The Spotlight

HOUSTON, Jan. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Shell launched today a two-day Innovation Summit at the recently expanded Shell Technology Center in Houston. The event brings Shell business and technology leaders together with cross-sector experts to explore how collaboration, particularly among unusual partners, can generate innovative thinking and new ideas on complex societal issues, such as the increasing stress among food, water and energy.

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"Shell has spent over a billion dollars a year on researching and developing new technologies – more than any of our peers. This investment in innovation and a consistent commitment to collaboration are essential to spark new ideas and develop solutions to today's and tomorrow's challenges," said Matthias Bichsel, director of Projects & Technology at Royal Dutch Shell. "They are the keys to delivering much needed energy in a more sustainable way for a rapidly growing global population and ensuring improved living standards for millions of people now and in the future."

The Innovation Summit also is serving as the rededication of Shell Technology Center Houston, following extensive remodeling and expansion. Following its rededication, Shell Technology Center Houston will be the largest of Shell's three global technology hubs alongside Amsterdam in The Netherlands and Bangalore in India.

The Innovation Summit features an interactive exhibit hall and two days of speakers and panelists focused on the value of innovation, technology and collaboration, such as Shell's work with NASA and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

"Our collaborative work with organizations, such as X PRIZE Foundation, MD Anderson and NASA, and other technical partnerships, such as Scuderia Ferrari, Penske Racing and Hendricks Motorsports, will continue to provide the ingredients of potential breakthroughs for energy, fuels and engine oil, space exploration, and even public health," said Marvin Odum, President of Shell Oil Company and Director of Upstream of Royal Dutch Shell's subsidiary companies in the Americas.

Other sessions explore the future of energy, including technologies, tight gas, nanotechnology, high performance computing, and mobility including biofuels.

"Real innovation relies on co-creation, collaborative problem-solving and cultivating next-generation ideas from within and outside our company to pioneer unique solutions," said Gerald Schotman, chief technology officer and executive vice president, Innovation Research & Development at Royal Dutch Shell. "Advanced technologies continue to generate new energy sources, increase efficiency, and address and responsibly manage environmental impacts."

The Shell GameChanger team has facilitated a series of 'speedmatching' events for numerous organizations, including NASA and MD Anderson. In these sessions, Shell scientists interacted with their peers to identify opportunities for cooperation and collaboration. As a result, NASA and Shell have launched several projects and are developing further opportunities.

Since 1936 and 1975, respectively, the former Bellaire and Westhollow technology centers that now make up Shell Technology Center Houston have been active in research and development in key onshore and offshore upstream, and downstream refining and chemical products technologies, working on advances in unconventional and deepwater technologies and downstream processes, chemistry and new fuel sources. The integrated center is designed to leverage combined skills and capacity to benefit the entire value chain.

Shell Technology Center Houston, along with technology hubs in Bangalore (India) and Amsterdam (The Netherlands), is a key part of Shell's global network of technology centers and which are connected to Shell's global businesses, customers and partners. Locations of other Shell research, development and testing facilities currently include Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, Qatar, Norway, the Sultanate of Oman and the UK. A new technical center for lubricants technology is planned for China.

The full agenda for the Summit can be found here.

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SOURCE Shell Oil Company