LONDON, April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ICIS (http://www.icis.com ), the trusted information provider for the global chemical and energy industries, today calls for entries for its eighth annual ICIS Innovation Awards (http://www.icis.com/awards ), designed to recognise outstanding technological and business innovation in the chemical industry.

ICIS is pleased to welcome Netherlands-based health, nutrition and materials global major DSM (http://www.dsm.com) as sponsor of a new category for 2011: Best Innovation for Sustainability.

Dow Corning (http://www.dowcorning.com ) is the overall lead sponsor for the Awards, as it has been from their inception in 2004, while CRA (http://www.crai.com/chemicals ) returns as the sponsor of the Best Product Innovation category, and U.S Chemicals (http://www.uschemicals.com) is again sponsor of the Innovation with Best Environmental Benefit category.

The awards enable companies to celebrate their success in the vital activity of innovation and the increasingly important areas of sustainability and environmental performance.

    There are five categories to enter:
    - Best Product Innovation - sponsored by CRA
    - Best Innovation by a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME)
    - Best Business Innovation
    - Best Innovation for Sustainability - sponsored by DSM

- Innovation with the Best Environmental Benefit - sponsored by U.S. Chemicals

John Baker, global editor at ICIS and organiser of the Awards, notes that: "The Innovation Awards continue to grow and gain industry support. We have added a new sponsor and new category this year and look forward to being able to highlight the very best of innovation in the industry later in the year. There is tremendous effort and investment going into innovation in the chemical sector today, as companies seek answers to many of society's global problems."

The Awards are open to entry from today, with a deadline for entries of 4 July 2011. The winners will be announced on 17 October.

For more information or to enter the awards, visit http://www.icis.com/awards or call John Baker on +44-20-8652-3153.

Notes to Editors:

ICIS

ICIS, the trusted information provider for the chemical and energy industries, is part of Reed Business Information (RBI), a division of Reed Business and a member of Reed Elsevier plc (525), (UK:REL) (US:RUK) (NL:45443), the world's leading publisher and information provider. For more information on ICIS visit http://www.icis.com

RBI publishes over 100 market leading publications, directories and online services, and organises many industry conferences and awards. For a full listing visit http://www.reedbusiness.co.uk

    For further information please contact:

    John Baker
    ICIS
    Tel: +44-20-8652-3153
    Email: john.baker@icis.com
    Web site: http://www.icis.com

About Dow Corning Corporation

Dow Corning provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation, Dow Corning offers more than 7,000 products and services via the company's Dow Corning and XIAMETER brands.

Dow Corning is a joint venture equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning's annual sales are outside the US.

    For further information please contact

    Jarrod Erpelding
    Dow Corning
    Tel: +1-989-496-1582
    Email: jarrod.erpelding@dowcorning.com
    Web site: http://www.dowchemical.com

About CRA

Founded in 1965, CRA is a leading provider of strategic consulting and economic and financial expertise. Headquartered in Boston, the firm has over 700 professional staff at its offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. We believe in using a combination of industry experience and rigorous, fact-based analysis in order to provide clients with clear solutions to complex business problems. Our Global Chemicals Strategy Practice applies keen insight and rich experience across the industry, from upstream petrochemicals and polymers to downstream specialty chemicals and materials. Our functional offerings are designed to support our clients in achieving profitable growth covering areas such as portfolio and business strategy, technology and innovation management, M&A, performance improvement, and organization restructuring.

    For further information please contact:

    Dr Neil Checker
    CRA International
    Tel: +44-20-7959-1582
    Email: nchecker@crai.com
    Web site: http://www.crai.com/chemicals

About U.S. Chemicals LLC

U.S. Chemicals, LLC, is a 50-year-old worldwide specialty chemical distributor serving the textiles, paint, flame retardants, plastic, cosmetic, personal care, food and pharmaceutical industries. A woman-owned business based in New Canaan, Connecticut, US, U.S. Chemicals actively supports environmentally responsible manufacturers and distributors of chemical products and services.

    For further information, please contact

    Carol Piccaro
    U.S. Chemicals LLC
    Tel: +1-203-966-8777
    Email: cpiccaro@uschemicals.com
    Web site: http://www.uschemicals.com

About DSM

Royal DSM N.V. is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM's 22,000 employees deliver annual net sales of about EUR 9 billion. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext.

    For further information, please contact

    Petra Meijers
    DSM Innovation Center
    T +31-46-4763559
    Email: petra.meijers@dsm.com
    Web site: http://www.dsm.com

SOURCE ICIS