KEUKEN & DE KONING BV

Their core work

Keuken & De Koning is a Dutch SME specializing in chemical process engineering, catalysis, and materials testing. They provide third-party expertise to EU research consortia, contributing specialized knowledge in areas such as catalyst development, reactor design, polymer chemistry, and waste-to-fuel conversion processes. Their consistent role across 11 H2020 projects as a third-party contributor suggests they offer contract research, analytical services, or pilot-scale testing capabilities that larger consortia rely on for specific technical challenges in chemical and process engineering.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2016–2018), Keuken & De Koning focused on advanced materials for CO2 capture (graphene aerogels, MOFs, carbon nanotubes, membrane technology) and bio-monomer production from biomass. From 2019 onward, their work shifted toward applied catalysis for waste valorization and fuel production — including methane-to-propylene conversion, waste-to-biofuels via hydrothermal liquefaction, CO2-to-methanol, and bio-based polymer systems. The trajectory shows a clear move from materials science and capture technologies toward catalytic conversion processes with direct industrial and circular economy applications.

Moving strongly toward applied catalysis for circular carbon economy — converting CO2, biomass waste, and plastics into fuels and chemicals, making them a good fit for upcoming Green Deal consortia.

How they like to work

Keuken & De Koning operates exclusively as a third-party contributor — they have never coordinated or directly participated in any of their 11 H2020 projects. This indicates they are brought in by consortium partners for specific technical expertise rather than driving project direction. With 118 unique partners across 19 countries, they have an exceptionally broad network for a small company, suggesting they are a trusted specialist that multiple research groups call upon when they need process engineering or catalysis know-how.

Despite their third-party role, they have built a remarkably wide network of 118 unique consortium partners spread across 19 countries, reflecting deep integration into European chemical and energy research circles. Their Netherlands base places them at the center of Europe's chemical industry corridor.

What sets them apart

Their exclusive third-party role across all 11 projects is highly unusual and signals a company that provides specialized, on-demand technical services rather than pursuing its own research agenda. This makes them a low-risk, high-flexibility partner — they bring focused expertise without competing for project leadership or IP ownership. For consortium builders, they offer proven catalysis and chemical process capabilities without the political complexity of adding another ambitious research partner.

Highlights from their portfolio

• C123
  Combines methane oxidative conversion with hydroformylation to propylene — an ambitious one-step approach to converting natural gas into high-value chemicals using MOF catalysts.
• LAURELIN
  One of their most recent projects (2021), focused on selective CO2-to-methanol conversion, directly aligned with the European Green Deal decarbonization agenda.
• WASTE2ROAD
  Addresses the full waste-to-biofuels chain (HTL, pyrolysis, co-FCC) from municipal and industrial waste, demonstrating their breadth across multiple conversion technologies.