ICIS Launches Chemical Industry Innovation Awards for 2009, Sponsored by Dow Corning

Welcomes CRA International as a New Sponsor

ICIS (http://wwww.icis.com), the world's leading information provider for the global chemical and oil industry, today calls for entries for its sixth annual ICIS Innovation Awards (http://www.icis.com/awards), designed to recognise outstanding technological and business innovation in the chemical industry.

Dow Corning (http://www.dowcorning.com) is the overall lead sponsor for the Awards, as it has been from their inception in 2004. This year, ICIS is pleased to welcome consultancy CRA International ( http://www.crai.com/chemicals) as the sponsor of the Best Innovation category.

The awards enable companies to celebrate their success in the vital activity of innovation. There are four categories to enter:

- Best Product Innovation
    - Best Innovation by a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME)
    - Best Business Innovation
    - Best Innovation in Corporate Social Responsibility

"Successful innovation takes courage. It requires a clear vision and a strategy. But more importantly it takes commitment and tenacity... In partnership with ICIS we're pleased to celebrate the success stories of companies who have made innovation an integral element of their business. That's a commitment we should all celebrate", comments Stephanie Burns, chairman, president and CEO, Dow Corning Corporation.

Dr Neil Checker, vice president and head of the European & Middle East region for chemicals at CRAI, adds: "In a challenging economy, we at CRA believe continued investment in technology and innovation is even more critical to the long-term success of chemical companies... We look forward to recognizing those companies which are committed to this objective and celebrating their achievements".

John Baker, global editor at ICIS, notes that: "The Innovation Awards generate great interest in the industry - it's always very rewarding to see how enthusiastically the winners receive the news of their awards. It's important to them both externally and within their own companies."

The Awards are open to entry from today, with a deadline for entries of 6 July 2009. The winners will be announced on 19 October

Read about last year's winning entries (http://www.icis.com/Assets/GetAsset.aspx?ItemID=21661).

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 world's leading information provider for the chemical and oil industry, 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

About CRA International

Founded in 1965, CRA International is a leading global consulting firm that offers business management, economic and financial expertise to major law firms, businesses, accounting firms and governments. CRA has more than 40 years' experience advising to participants in the chemicals industry on such issues as business strategy, business performance improvement and the delivery of profitable growth. CRA's insights and experience have been applied across the chemicals industry from upstream petrochemicals and polymers to downstream specialty chemicals and materials. Detailed information about CRA is available at http://www.crai.com

About Dow Corning

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:

    John Baker
    ICIS
    Tel: +44-20-8652-3153
    Email: john.baker@icis.com

    Dr Neil Checker
    CRA International
    Tel: +44-20-7959-1582
    Email: nchecker@crai.com

    Randall Rozin
    Dow Corning
    +1-989-496-5532
    Email: randall.rozin@dowcorning.com

For further information please contact: John Baker, ICIS, Tel: +44-20-8652-3153,
Email: john.baker@icis.com; Dr Neil Checker, CRA International, Tel:
+44-20-7959-1582, Email: nchecker@crai.com; Randall Rozin, Dow Corning,
+1-989-496-5532, Email: randall.rozin@dowcorning.com

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