The new center focuses on swine and poultry nutrition, and aims to meet the needs of the fast-growing market in China which accounts for more than 50 percent of the global market.

Nathan Bird, vice-president of DSM Nutritional Products China, said the investment in the center demonstrates the company's commitment to China as an important growth area in the animal nutrition sector.

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Huge growth in the consumption of traditional energy sources such as oil and coal - energy that produces emissions and pollution, has led China to make efforts to shift to alternatives such as solar. DSM has been working on a coating product that can raise the efficiency of photovoltaic solar panels.

Sijbesma said the company is also working on a number of products, which are still under wraps, for the solar sector and that they would be unveiled at an opportune time.

Although China's economy is slowing, DSM's business in China grew steadily last year with its total sales reaching more than $1.7 billion.

"The growth of the food market is slowing a bit at this moment, but I believe it will continue at a relatively high number in the future," said Sijbesma. "It depends on how well we adjust to the needs of the Chinese market for food. We can adjust more and more to the Chinese habit of eating. Therefore, we can grow our business faster."

DSM has been changing with the time. It was traditionally a coal mining company when it was established. Then it became a petrochemicals company. In the past few years, the company changed into a life sciences and material sciences company through selling assets and acquisitions.

"What makes the difference is the open mind, external orientation, and the guts to do what you are good at," said Sijbesma in response to questions on the company's transformation.

"China will continue to grow, and it will adapt itself," he said. "The new leadership, with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li at the helm, is very much aware of issues like climate change, food security, energy and the need to end corruption. They are addressing all these issues to make the Chinese economy have a long-lasting growth," he said.