Rhodia’s innovation teams are proud to work closely with representatives of major academic institutions worldwide. Our experts collaborate on projects with eminent scientists from, among others:

• The National Scientific Research Center (CNRS), France

• The University of Bordeaux 1, France

• The University Claude Bernard of Lyon, France

• The Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS) of Lyon, France

• The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA

• The East China Normal University (ECNU) of Shanghai, China

• The University of Campinas (Unicamp), Brazil

Rhodia and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) have enjoyed a close partnership since 1975, based on regularly renewed cooperation agreements, demonstrating the complementary nature of public and private research and the synergies between the two.

Today, CNRS and Rhodia researchers are working together in four joint research units on common projects, from upstream to downstream, that have already led to substantial product development. This collaborative model between a chemical producer and academia has proved to be a benchmark.

The cooperation between Rhodia and the CNRS also includes regular scientific consultation, as well as the employment by Rhodia of newly qualified research graduates after gaining their Ph.D. or post-doctorate training at the CNRS, and research contracts with CNRS units.

Rhodia’s distinguished record of collaboration with academia has been expanded with the creation of the Rhodia-Pierre Gilles De Gennes Prize for Science and Industry. With this prize, the company is paying tribute to the eminent research scientist and winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1991, who made a substantial contribution to the scientific and technical strategy of the Group over a 20-year period. The selection panel for the Prize consists of eminent scientists, a clear indicator of the privileged relationship between Rhodia and the academic world.

Rhodia also enjoys strong relationships with engineering colleges and universities. This serves to create an available pool of young talent, so vital in our fast-progressing industry, and we collaborate to devise training programs that address the industrial challenges ahead.