BASF continues to be a global sponsor of the WorldSkills competition to support the development of new talents in the automotive coating industry

● BASF has signed a multi-year global industry partnership agreement to become the exclusive sponsor of the WorldSkills Automotive Painting program

● BASF will continue its long-term support to develop new talent and drive innovation

● Entrants will use BASF's high-end refinish brand Glasurit® products

BASF's Coatings business unit and WorldSkills International recently signed a new multi-year global industry partnership agreement
.
With this agreement, BASF continues its long-term commitment to developing new talent for the automotive refinish industry and further defines its support for the upcoming WorldSkills competition in Shanghai in October 2022
.

The WorldSkills Competition was founded in 1950 and is held every two years in different regions of the world.
It is the gold standard for new talents to demonstrate their professional skills and pursue excellence
.
The competition is designed to inspire young entrants to the next level while providing them with the training and skills they need to get started
.
Affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the WorldSkills competition has been suspended since 2020.
The sponsorship provided by BASF aims to help participants meet the challenge after the postponement of the competition, reconnect with each other and get ready to go
.

Fabien Boschetti, Global Marketing Director of BASF’s Automotive Refinish Coatings business unit, said: “BASF understands that there is a growing global demand for young, well-trained talent
.
We are proud to be partnering with WorldSkills
.
Industry, government, education and academia have come together to showcase the strengths of the refinish industry, allowing them to turn this passion into a career as a fine sprayer
.
”

Boschetti added: “Vocational skills are more important than ever, and the younger generation will lead us on the road to global economic recovery and help us meet the challenges of the future
.
To this end, BASF is proud to have this agreement with WorldSkills for the next three years.
We will continue to cooperate in the next year and have the priority to renew the contract
.
”

The 46th WorldSkills Competition will be held in Shanghai from October 12 to 17, 2022.
It is expected that players from more than 60 countries and regions will participate
.
Auto painting is one of the 63 skills competitions in the WorldSkills competition
.
Competitors in the automotive painting program will use BASF's high-end refinish brand Glasurit® as in previous years
.

BASF recently signed a letter of intent with the WorldSkills Shanghai 2022 Executive Board to become the exclusive sponsor of the Shanghai WorldSkills Competition's automotive spray project
.

Zhengyu Zhao, Senior Vice President of BASF’s Asia Pacific Coatings Business Unit, said: “As the world and BASF prepare for this year’s WorldSkills WorldSkills final in Shanghai, we are very pleased to be able to leverage BASF’s extensive knowledge, people and expertise in China through this global platform.
, and the excellent training provided by Refinity®, a digital tool, to train the next generation of spray technicians for the refinish industry with sustainability and digital benchmarks
.
This training program will help drive the economic and social prosperity of the refinish industry
.
”

Meanwhile, WorldSkills will open its WorldSkills Museum to the public
.
This WorldSkills Museum, located on the banks of the Huangpu River in Yangpu District, Shanghai, is the first museum in the world dedicated to displaying vocational skills
.
The museum will tell the story of how skills are changing and impacting society and people's lives around the world through new exhibits, including refinish brand Glasurit® Parrot®
.