Innovation

Diversification, decarbonisation and digitalisation - the three pillars of Ercros' strategy - are our R&D objectives

Gentamicina

Six active patents

Ercros' R&D activity is focused on:

  • The development of new products with high added value.
  • New applications of consolidated products.
  • Improving the efficiency of production processes.
  • Expansion of production capacity.


Ercros has six patents registered and in force.

The company has four R&D centres of its own, located in the Aranjuez, Monzón, Sabiñánigo and Tortosa factories, which serve the pharmaceutical, plastics, basic chemicals and intermediate chemicals activities, respectively.

Two women working in the R&D laboratory in Tortosa.
Two workers at the R&D laboratory in Tortosa.
Work in the laboratory of the Vila-seca II factory.
Work in the plastics laboratory
Pilot plant at the Aranjuez factory in 1990
Fermentation pilot plant
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The 3D Plan guides R&D activity

Diversification, decarbonisation and digitalisation, the three dimensions of Ercros' strategic plan, the 3D Plan, guide R&D activity. This plan follows Plan Act, which ended in 2020 and has involved modernising, improving energy efficiency and increasing the capacity of several production facilities.

The 3D Plan, in force for the period 2021-2029, aims to transform Ercros into a sustainable company; it contains 20 projects, framed in the three dimensions:

  • The aim of diversification is to control and, if possible, reduce Ercros' strong cyclical dependence on the chlorine-soda business.
  • The objective of digitalisation is to improve Ercros' competitiveness by reducing operating costs, increasing the volume of production and sales, and strengthening customer loyalty.
  • The objective of decarbonisation is to intensify the efforts Ercros is already making to mitigate climate change and adapt to the new regulatory framework for industrial activity. We expect that at the end of the first phase of the 3D Plan, in 2025, the direct CO2 emissions generated by the company's activity will have been reduced by 39% vs. 2020.

The 3D Plan foresees an investment of 92 million euros and an additional cumulative ebitda generation of 194 million euros. The plan is being financed with internally generated resources and European and other public aid, such as a EUR 40 million loan granted by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The premise is that the implementation of the plan will not jeopardise the company's financial solvency or shareholder remuneration.

 

 3D Plan investments

Diversification projects are aimed at strengthening the intermediate chemicals and pharmaceuticals divisions and the potable water segment.

Digitisation is a priority dimension of the 3D Strategic Plan

Digitisation will enable greater capacity to manage production, commercial, logistical and administrative processes through automated data management.

 

New facilities at the factory in Vila-seca I

Decarbonisation is based on four main areas: energy efficiency; maximising the use of hydrogen; circular economy; and sustainable mobility.

Public aids in progress

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CDTI: Centre for Technological Development and Innovation, a public business entity dependent on the Ministry of Science and Innovation.

AEI: State research agency, part of the Ministry of Science and Innovation.

IDIS: Department of Industry, Competitiveness and Business Development of the Government of Aragon.

IDAE: Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy, under the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge.

IVACE: Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness, dependent on the Valencian Ministry of Sustainable Economy, Productive Sectors, Trade and Labour​​​

Partnership agreements

Ercros carries out its R&D activities in collaboration with leading universities and technological research centres, with whom it has joint programmes for project development.

ACCIÓ | Generalitat de Catalunya

Acció agency

Affiliated to the Departament d'Empresa i Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya.
CDTI

Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI)

Affiliated to the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
Centro Nacional de Energías Renovables | Cener

The National Renewable Energy Centre of Spain (CENER)

Centre Català del Plàstic

Centre Català del Plàstic

Affiliated to the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC).
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Citius programme

Affiliated to the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).
CSIC

Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)

Eurecat

Technology Centre of Catalonia (Eurecat)

Programa Operativo Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional Aragón 2014-2020

European Regional Development Fund Aragon Aragón 2014-2020

Operational Programme
Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional FEDER - Unión Europea

European Regional Development Fund

Affiliated to the European Commission.
IDAE

IDAE

Affiliated to the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
Logo IQS

Instituto Químico de Sarriá (IQS)

Leartiker

Leartiker

Affiliated to the Basque Science and Technology Network.
Logo Ministerio de Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation

Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Turismo

Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism

Polymat

Polymat Institute

Affiliated to the University of the Basque Country.
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

UAM-Ercros Chair

Affiliated to the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM).
Logo Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)

Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)

Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV)

Logo de la Universidad de Valencia

Instituto de Tecnología Química, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (ITQ-UPV-CSIC)

Universidad de Zaragoza

Office for Research Results Transfer Activities (OTRI)

Affiliated to the University of Zaragoza (Unizar).