SAINT-FONS, France — July 1, 2021 — Elkem Silicones announces the official opening of its new Research and Innovation Centre in Saint-Fons in Lyon’s “Chemical Valley”. Short for “atrium and innovation”, ATRiON will foster synergies and collaborative research work, reflecting the evolution of research towards more open, more multidisciplinary formats.
With ATRiON, Elkem Silicones is doubling its space dedicated to research and innovation, with particular attention given to collaborative work and employee safety. Laboratories, offices and collaborative spaces branch out from a central atrium, the heart of the facility.
Offering a 7,000 square mater global showcase for staff, customers, shareholders and partners, this unique location will host collaborative research between Elkem Silicones’ teams and the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region’s “Open Innovation Network”.
ATRiON’s 120 researchers work on innovations in partnership with customers, mainly in the fields of the circular economy, digitalisation, consumer goods, living comfort and new materials for energy and mobility.
ATRiON brings together people and competences in chemistry, processes, formulations, applications, analysis, patents, project management and marketing.
According to Frédéric Jacquin, senior vice president, Elkem Silicones: “Investing in research and innovation is the best way to safeguard future growth. Having an open centre like ATRiON is fundamental to the cross-fertilisation of ideas and expertise, from which the best innovations often emerge.
“ATRiON, at the heart of the eco-system of our “Chemical Valley” and the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region, is ideally placed and designed to accelerate the speed and diversity of our development projects and provide our R&I teams with the best possible working conditions,” says Sophie Schneider, Director of Research and Innovation.
ATRiON Fact Sheet
- Investment: €25 million
- Design and build: Spie Batignolles Sud-Est
- Architect: TJ ARCHI
- Useable area: 7,000 m², including 2,500 m² of laboratory space and 800 m² dedicated to collaborative work
- 20 months of work and more than 100,000 hours to build & equip the building
Posted July 6, 2021
Source: Elkem
