Productive Research and Development

In 2010, Kemira completed the reorganization of its R&D operations, which began the previous year. This created a unique innovation process that involves all organizational levels of the company. 

In addition to R&D, the basis of Kemira's unique innovation process consists of many other functions, such as marketing, sales, production and raw material procurement. The process incorporates all of these functions and the related responsibilities at different stages of the project. All operations must contribute during product development.

Commercializing product development requires measurable goals and the relevant indicators, as well as an effective sales organization.

A strategy-based product portfolio 

During 2010, Kemira created the necessary pools of expertise for research and product development and recruited new expertise in selected fields. The company also revised its product development portfolio to support its strategy and established strategic partnerships. Carefully selected partnerships support Kemira’s goals.

“Equipment manufacturing, for example, will never be a core business for Kemira. We need partnerships to gain the necessary expertise. Swiftness is a decisive competitive factor, and it is difficult for a single company to acquire suffi cient expertise rapidly enough,” says Johan Grön, the former Executive Vice President of R&D and Technology, who left Kemira at the end of 2010.

Efficiency means sustainability 

Sustainable development is a key goal for research and product development, and solutions related to sustainability will continue to gain significance.

Chemical use can be reduced and measuring methods improved by optimizing water treatment processes. Waste will become a new resource, because more and more raw materials can be separated from biomass, a byproduct of water treatment processes.

Seeking new growth

R&D creates new competences and expands the product portfolio. Research focuses on increasing expertise in chemicals for which there is a recognized need. Research and development strengthens expertise in accordance with the company’s strategy.

Kemira can expect new business opportunities in the field of microporous filters for example. Microporous filters known as membranes have been a key research area for 10 years now. They remain important, and the research has been expanded to cover microtechnologies and nanotechnologies. Membranes are used in desalination, for example.

Biomass is the most important new research area, as it will be possible to separate more and more raw materials from biomass in the future. Sludge from water treatment is rich in nutrients and minerals that can be reused, such as phosphorus, nitrates and nitrogen. It may even be possible to produce biodegradable polymers from biomass. When everything else has been processed, the remaining methane can be used to produce biogas. Major future research areas will include bioethanol fuels.