R&D at a glance
Mission and vision
Research and Development (R&D) is the very essence of Rhodia. It is global, diverse and flexible, and fosters an open worldwide network which aims to provide innovative solutions which create value and makes us stand out from our competitors.
Our dynamic international network of experts helps us to provide the finest technical support, improve the performance of industrial processes to achieve operational excellence, and to create and launch ground-breaking new products.
Challenges
In the long term, Rhodia is committing some of its innovation and marketing resources to a variety of breakthrough projects. These cover safety and well being, protection of the environment and best use of energy, as well as the development of a new generation of products and industrial processes which are safer and cleaner.
The chemical industry worldwide is facing intense societal, environmental and economic expectations and responsible chemicals producers must strive to anticipate regulatory change. All Rhodia innovation projects are constantly monitored to evaluate their impact on the world in which we live.
Organization
Rhodia R&D teams comprise an active network of some 1,000 people based in our five R&D centers – in France (two), Brazil, the USA and China - and more than 35 technical centers close to our plants and the headquarters of our customers world-wide. To support its innovation programs, the Group is continually adding to its resource pool through an active external network of leading universities and industrial organizations, and by opening joint laboratories with France’s National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS).
Competencies
Rhodia continuously reinforces its pool of experts in five key areas: advanced materials science, inorganic chemistry synthesis and properties, complex fluids and surface management, high-throughout test design and process technology. For each competency, Rhodia’s network of experts embraces every skill required for successful development, from advanced research and process extrapolation, to technical support for our customers.
Culture
Rhodia’s innovation culture embraces all those elements essential to providing the very best in creative output to the industry along with a productive, career-enhancing climate for its management and staff.
Leadership and entrepreneurial spirit are at the heart of everything we do. We are diverse and inclusive, engaged and passionate, driven by our ambition to achieve business excellence and total customer satisfaction, while always mindful of the importance of respecting the planet we inhabit.
Key figures 2007
1,000 R&D staff worldwide
5 research & technologies centers: Aubervilliers & Lyon (France), Shanghai (China), Paulinia (Brazil), Bristol (USA)
€119 million Expenses dedicated to R&D (cash-flow total)
€24 million capitalization R&D
112 patents registered in 2007
22 percent of sales generated by products less than five years old
