NEW CASTLE, Del. — Avecia Inc. has opened a 13,800-sq-ft R&D Center at its New Castle, Del., site. The $4.5-million facility, which houses skilled teams of microbiologists, chemists and laboratory technicians, will serve as the U.S. R&D headquarters for Avecia’s Biocides business. The center is one of the largest dedicated laboratory suites for biocides development in the industry.

The new Biocides R&D center contains 16 offices and six full-size laboratories, initially housing 24 Avecia scientists. Constructed with full safety and emergency-communication features, the center contains the latest analytical equipment, an indoor-spa testing facility and an outdoor swimming pool also used for testing.