The Engineering and Catalysis Platform (ECP) plays a leading role in advancing the integration of catalysis, chemical engineering, and process scale-up. ECP combines expertise in catalytic tests, reaction engineering, process design and simulation, and pilot-scale operations to accelerate the transition from scientific discovery to industrial implementation. The group develops proprietary catalysts and provides experimental capabilities spanning the entire innovation chain, from laboratory-scale catalytic screening and mechanistic studies to the design, construction, commissioning, and operation of large pilot plants. This unique multiscale expertise enables ECP to address the critical challenges associated with technology maturation, de-risking, and industrial deployment. By integrating advanced experimentation, engineering design, digital data management, and rigorous process validation, ECP strives for excellence in bringing sustainable chemical technologies to higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). Through its close connection to PSI’s Energy System Integration initiatives and its strong collaborations with industry, ECP serves as an accelerator for transforming promising low-carbon processes into scalable, reliable, and economically viable solutions that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions and the realization of a greener future.
This commitment to scale-up is central to ECP’s philosophy: true impact is achieved not only by discovering better catalysts, but by ensuring that these innovations function efficiently and safely under realistic operating conditions. By leveraging expertise ranging from catalyst synthesis and bench-scale testing to process engineering, risk assessments, commissioning, long-term pilot plant operation and process simulation, ECP bridges the gap between laboratory research and commercial application. This holistic approach enables the group to support the development of next-generation technologies for sustainable fuels, carbon utilization, hydrogen systems, and renewable chemicals, helping to accelerate their adoption and maximize their environmental benefit.