Spanish deep-tech SME specializing in ionic ceramic membranes and catalytic pyrolysis for industrial gas separation and plastic waste valorization.
Kerionics is a Spanish deep-tech SME specializing in advanced membrane and catalytic process technologies for industrial gas separation and chemical production. Their core technology involves ionic ceramic membranes capable of producing high-purity oxygen — a platform technology with applications in combustion, gasification, and CO2 capture. Building on this foundation, they have expanded into catalytic thermochemical conversion of plastic waste, contributing membrane and process expertise to transform mixed plastic residues into aromatic chemicals. They operate at the intersection of materials science, chemical engineering, and circular economy — providing the technical backbone for both cleaner industrial processes and plastic valorization systems.
GO2 (2016) was a dedicated SME Phase 1 feasibility study on efficient industrial O2 generation using ionic membrane modules, and membranes reappear as a keyword in iCAREPLAST (2018), indicating this is the organization's foundational technology.
In iCAREPLAST, Kerionics contributed to catalytic recycling of mixed plastic residues into aromatics and other added-value chemicals via pyrolysis pathways.
CO2 capture is listed among iCAREPLAST's core keywords, suggesting Kerionics' membrane technology is positioned for carbon separation applications beyond oxygen production.
LCA appears as a keyword in iCAREPLAST, indicating capacity to evaluate environmental impact of recycling and catalytic processes — a requirement for credible circular economy claims.
Artificial intelligence is listed among iCAREPLAST keywords, suggesting early involvement in data-driven optimization of catalytic or separation processes.
Kerionics began their H2020 journey focused narrowly on a single enabling technology: ionic membrane modules for industrial oxygen generation — a clean-tech hardware play with a specific industrial application. By 2018, their focus had expanded dramatically into the environmental and circular economy space, with iCAREPLAST bringing in catalysis, pyrolysis, plastic recycling, urban waste streams, AI, and LCA — a much broader and more systems-level engagement. The trajectory suggests that Kerionics is using their membrane and process chemistry expertise as a transferable platform, applying it to whatever high-value problem attracts EU funding and industrial relevance.
Kerionics is moving from niche industrial gas hardware toward complex multi-step catalytic recycling systems, positioning themselves as a process technology SME for the circular economy — making them a likely fit for future Horizon Europe calls on chemical recycling, urban waste valorization, or industrial CO2 utilization.
Kerionics has taken on both roles: they led GO2 independently as coordinator under the SME Instrument Phase 1, demonstrating capacity for autonomous technology validation. In iCAREPLAST, they joined as a participant in a larger multi-partner innovation action, suggesting they are comfortable contributing specialized process expertise within a consortium rather than always driving the agenda. With only 10 unique partners across 2 projects, their network is lean and purposeful — not a serial consortium-builder, but a focused contributor who joins projects where their membrane or catalytic technology is a required component.
Kerionics has collaborated with 10 unique partners across 6 countries, a European-scale network consistent with an SME that selectively joins targeted consortia rather than building broad alliance networks. Their geographic spread suggests real cross-border collaboration rather than a purely domestic track record.
Kerionics occupies a rare position as a Spanish deep-tech SME with proven hardware expertise in ionic ceramic membranes — a technology that simultaneously addresses industrial gas separation, CO2 capture, and thermochemical conversion of waste. Unlike most SMEs that participate in EU projects as service providers or test sites, Kerionics appears to be a technology originator: they brought their own membrane IP into GO2 and applied related process chemistry in iCAREPLAST. For consortium builders, this means Kerionics can contribute proprietary technology rather than just capacity — a meaningful differentiator in competitive Horizon Europe bids.
