Michelin progresses ‘sustainable materials centre’ plans

Clermont-Ferrand, France – Michelin has provided a progress update on its ‘sustainable materials centre’ in Clermont-Ferrand – now set to host eight companies by the yearend, up from six last year.

Located within Michelin's Cataroux Innovation Park, the facilty was inaugurated in 2024 to help cleantech companies scale up technologies from demo to industrial production through shared industrial infrastructure and technical expertise. (ERJ report)

The latest additions include Syntecica, which is developing a polyamide depolymerisation technology, and Agreement, a 'deeptech' company specialising in low-temperature waste heat recovery.

Biotech Open Platform is also due to begin advanced fermentation trials at the site in September, added a Michelin release issued 27 July.

Other occupants include polymer recycler Carbios and plastics recycling company Coil, as well as Michelin's own ResiCare business and environmental consultancy Numtech.

Michelin reiterated its target for the centre to host around 20 companies by 2030, a tripling of the centre's capacity, and the creation of around 700 jobs.

The company also announced changes to the centre's management following the departure of director Pierre Robert.

Patrice Kefalas has taken over as director, alongside technical director Margarita Dorato and development director Stephane Gegout.

Dorato, who has spent more than 22 years in Michelin's R&D organisation, previously led the BlackCycle and BioButterfly projects focused on recycled and renewable raw materials.