As it launched a new Web site devoted to the upcoming G-20 summit and previewed plans for erecting a G-20 welcoming sign outside its U.S. headquarters overlooking the Parkway West, Bayer Corp. emerged yesterday as the first in what is expected to be a series of regional companies touting its role for the global economic summit that will be held in Pittsburgh in September.

Bayer officials said they will collaborate will other companies on branding and signage to be used throughout the city and region before thousands of delegates and journalists descend for the Sept. 24-25 event at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown.

Bayer's announcements came during an event at its Robinson campus where Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato toured laboratories where Bayer researchers are developing green and sustainable projects that both government officials said highlight Pittsburgh's economic transformation and showcase why the city was picked to host the G-20.

"These types of companies allow us to be viewed as an international city," said Mr. Onorato.

Besides being a German-owned enterprise with global operations, Bayer belongs to the G-20 Partnership, which includes businesses, labor groups and universities working together to promote Pittsburgh to the G-20. The company donated $35,000 to underwrite the Web site and signage, said Bryan Iams, Bayer spokesman.

The G-20 Partnership has yet to finalize a common brand for organizations to use for G-20 but hopes to by Sept. 1, he said. Those who wish to participate will be encouraged to hang banners and erect signs that will carry a common welcoming message to G-20 visitors.

In addition to a sign outside its U.S. headquarters located along the heavily traveled corridor between Downtown and the Pittsburgh International Airport, Bayer plans to put a G-20 welcoming sign inside the airport terminal and will integrate a message into its sign that sits prominently on Mount Washington overlooking Downtown.

Its new Web site, www.bayerg20pittsburgh.com, was designed to acquaint G-20 delegates, foreign journalists and others with Pittsburgh's history and the role Bayer has played since launching operations here 50 years ago.

Bayer, which has 1,500 employees at the Robinson headquarters and 1,200 at Medrad, a sister company based in Marshall, has taken an aggressive role in G-20 planning because it has operations in all the G-20 nations and is eager to be held up as an example of why Pittsburgh is a good place to do business, said Mr. Iams.

The projects Bayer showed off yesterday in its research labs include an energy-saving spray foam insulation that can be used in homes and commercial buildings; and materials used in environmentally-conscious LED (light-emitting diodes) lighting.

The company also said the U.S. Department of Energy awarded a $750,000 grant to Bayer MaterialScience to develop more efficient wind turbine blades used to generate electricity.