The birth of Evonik Industries on September 12, 2007 is a milestone in our corporate history. Our roots go back more than 170 years, to an era before Edison’s lightbulb and Carl Benz’ motorcar—to the tumultuous period of the Ruhr region’s emergence as a conurbation shaped by industry and immigration. Back then, the pioneers of chemistry rapidly invented an entire industry. Within the predecessor companies of Evonik, they created the foundations of our rich store of inventiveness. Today, Evonik is one of the most creative producers of specialty chemicals, and it’s set to become the leading global company in its sector.