Research and technological innovation

In San Donato Milanese, the Natural Resources, Wind and Marine Energy Research Centre and the New Feedstock and Energy Carriers Research Centre are active. The former specialises in developing technologies for the sustainable use of natural resources, the wind and the sea and provides technical support at every operational stage. The latter specialises in decarbonization and bio processes, product formulation and the study of raw materials for sustainable mobility.

The Renewable, New Energies and Material Science Research Centre in Novara specialises in renewable energy, the circular economy and agri-feedstock, as well as energy storage, hydrogen and chemical and physical testing in support of magnetic confinement fusion and new types of energy. We have more laboratories in Venice for the analysis and characterisation of advanced materials, the prevention of corrosion and the monitoring of methane emissions.

Pilot plants simulating refining and bio-refining processes for the conversion and fractionation of distillates, residue and bio-feedstock are in operation at the Research Centre Sud in Milazzo. The centre specialises in the analysis of oil and vegetable feedstocks for various processes, in the screening of catalysts and in the optimisation of process parameters.

Our two Research Centres in Ravenna and Ferrara together form Versalis's Elastomer Research Centre, where we study new development solutions in the field of elastomeric polymers. More specifically, we develop products from both traditional and circular sources, studying their chemical and physical properties and their performance in the main applications. Here activities are carried out in close collaboration with other centres, particularly the one in Mantua.

In Mantua we have Versalis's largest research centre, the Basic Chemicals and Plastics Research Centre Versalis, which focuses on our proprietary technologies. Among its activities are technical assistance to customers and the development of applications for basic chemicals and plastics. In this centre we also follow circular economy projects involving chemical and mechanical recycling of end-of-life plastics.

The Matrìca Research Centre in Porto Torres is located inside the Matrìca plants, a joint venture between Versalis and Novamont, and consists of an analysis laboratory and seven pilot plants. Its objective is to optimise the processes of the production site through specialised analytical assistance and activities related to the agricultural supply chain, with the aim of developing new technologies to enhance the value of raw materials of plant origin.

At the two Versalis Research Centres in Novara and Rivalta Scrivia we carry out innovative research and development activities on chemistry from renewable sources. The main areas we study are sugars obtained from lignocellulosic biomass, bioethanol, chemical intermediates, including those from raw materials of plant origin by synthesis or extraction, bio-polymers for fermentation and innovative proprietary catalysts.