JOHNSON MATTHEY PLC

Their core work

Johnson Matthey is a global specialty chemicals and sustainable technologies company headquartered in London, with deep expertise in catalysis, precious metals processing, and advanced materials. In H2020, they contribute industrial-scale catalyst development, membrane electrode assembly design, and process intensification know-how across energy, emissions control, and chemical manufacturing projects. Their role is typically that of the industrial partner bringing real-world manufacturing capability and materials science expertise to research consortia, bridging the gap between laboratory chemistry and commercial application.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2015–2018), Johnson Matthey focused heavily on automotive emissions control (REWARD, PaREGEn, DiePeR, UPGRADE) and traditional industrial chemistry — particulate reduction, PGM recovery via metallurgy, and biogas reforming. From 2019 onward, the portfolio shifted decisively toward decarbonization technologies: CO2 recycling and valorization, membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells, solar chemicals, and green hydrogen. This mirrors the company's broader strategic pivot away from internal combustion engine technologies toward clean energy and sustainable chemistry.

Johnson Matthey is moving from combustion-era catalyst expertise toward hydrogen economy and carbon capture technologies — future partners should expect deep engagement in fuel cells, electrolysis, and CO2 utilization.

How they like to work

Johnson Matthey overwhelmingly participates rather than leads — coordinating only 2 of 57 projects — which reflects its role as the industrial partner that academic-led consortia bring in for manufacturing expertise and commercial pathway credibility. With 494 unique partners across 39 countries, they operate as a highly connected hub rather than sticking to a small circle, making them accessible for new collaborations. Their presence in both RIA (30 projects) and IA (13 projects) shows they engage from early research through to demonstration scale.

An exceptionally well-connected industrial partner with 494 unique consortium partners spanning 39 countries, placing them among the most networked private companies in H2020. Their collaborations are pan-European with no strong geographic bias, reflecting their multinational operations.

What sets them apart

Johnson Matthey occupies a rare position as a large industrial company with genuine in-house R&D capacity in catalysis and advanced materials, making them one of the few private-sector partners that can take a catalyst from molecular design through to industrial-scale manufacturing. Their dual expertise in precious metals chemistry and clean energy technologies means they can contribute to both the supply side (making catalysts and MEAs) and the demand side (deploying them in fuel cells and chemical reactors). For consortium builders, they bring not just technical capability but also commercial credibility that strengthens exploitation plans.

Highlights from their portfolio

• INSPIRE
  One of only two projects Johnson Matthey coordinated, with their largest single EC contribution (€1.59M), focused on fuel cell stack integration — signals a strategic priority area.
• C123
  Bridges their catalyst expertise with emerging CO2/methane conversion chemistry, combining MOFs, micro-kinetic modelling, and reactor design in a single project.
• PLATIRUS
  Directly addresses critical raw material circularity — recovering platinum group metals from secondary sources — connecting their precious metals heritage with EU strategic autonomy goals.