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INNOMEM · Project

One-Stop Test Bed for Companies Needing Better Industrial Membranes

manufacturingPilotedTRL 7
innomem.eu

Imagine you need a special filter for your factory — one that separates gases, purifies water, or captures CO2 — but developing and testing it costs a fortune and takes years. INNOMEM built a shared testing facility across Europe where companies can walk in, describe their filtration problem, and get access to manufacturing pilot lines, advanced testing equipment, and business coaching — all through a single entry point. Think of it like a shared kitchen for professional chefs, but for membrane technology. Over 20 top European membrane research groups pooled their equipment and expertise so that smaller companies don't have to build everything from scratch.

By the numbers
20%
Membrane productivity improvement
30%
Faster verification time
>40%
CO2 emissions and energy consumption reduction
10
Showcases planned
>15
Democases planned
>100
Reachable SMEs
>300
Reachable investors
35
Consortium partners
11
Countries represented
10
SMEs in consortium
The business problem

What needed solving

Many companies — especially SMEs — need advanced membrane technology for filtration, separation, or purification, but developing and testing membranes in-house requires expensive equipment, specialized knowledge, and years of trial and error. The risk and cost of getting it wrong keeps smaller players locked out of the market. There was no single place in Europe where a company could walk in, describe a membrane problem, and get end-to-end support from lab testing through pilot manufacturing.

The solution

What was built

INNOMEM built an Open Innovation Test Bed with manufacturing pilot lines for four types of membranes (polymeric, ceramic, metallic, nanocomposite), advanced characterization and modelling tools — including an open access expert system for membrane modelling — and a Single Entry Point for companies to access the full network of over 20 membrane research departments across Europe.

Audience

Who needs this

Water treatment companies upgrading filtration technologyChemical manufacturers needing industrial separation membranesEnergy companies exploring CO2 capture with membrane technologyFood and beverage processors requiring advanced filtrationMembrane startups needing access to pilot manufacturing without building their own line
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Water and wastewater treatment
SME
Target: Water treatment SMEs or utilities looking to upgrade filtration systems

If you are a water treatment company dealing with aging filtration infrastructure and rising quality standards — this project built manufacturing pilot lines for advanced nano-enabled membranes that target over 40% reduction in energy consumption. Instead of developing membrane technology in-house, you can access ready-made pilot facilities and expert modelling tools through a single entry point, cutting verification time by 30%.

Chemical and process manufacturing
mid-size
Target: Chemical manufacturers needing gas separation or solvent recovery membranes

If you are a chemical manufacturer struggling with expensive and energy-intensive separation processes — INNOMEM developed and tested polymeric, ceramic, metallic and nanocomposite membranes across multiple pilot lines, targeting 20% productivity improvement. The open access expert system for membrane modelling lets you simulate performance before committing to a full production run.

Energy and carbon capture
enterprise
Target: Energy companies or industrial emitters exploring CO2 capture solutions

If you are an energy company or heavy emitter facing tightening carbon regulations — this test bed demonstrated nano-enabled membranes for CO2 separation at TRL7 with targets of over 40% CO2 emissions reduction. With 35 consortium partners across 11 countries, the project created a network you can tap into for pilot testing without building your own R&D lab.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does it cost to access the INNOMEM test bed services?

The project was designed as an Open Innovation Test Bed with a Single Entry Point specifically to reduce investment costs and risks for companies, especially SMEs. Specific pricing for test bed access should be confirmed directly with the consortium, as this was a key design feature meant to lower the barrier to entry.

Can these membranes be manufactured at industrial scale?

Yes. INNOMEM built manufacturing pilot lines for polymeric, ceramic, metallic, and nanocomposite membranes, targeting 20% membrane productivity improvement. The project aimed at TRL7 demonstrations — meaning real-life industrial conditions — with over 15 democases planned across the consortium.

How is the intellectual property handled? Can I license this technology?

The consortium includes 18 industry partners and 10 SMEs alongside universities and research centers. IP and licensing arrangements should be discussed with the relevant consortium partner depending on the membrane type and application. The test bed model is designed for technology transfer to industry.

What types of membranes are available?

The project covers four main membrane types: polymeric, ceramic, metallic, and nanocomposite. It also addresses surface modification, membrane morphology, and geometry. An open access expert system for membrane modelling is available to help select the right approach for your application.

How long does it take to go from problem to tested membrane?

The project targeted 30% faster verification compared to traditional development paths. The Single Entry Point model means you describe your problem once and get routed to the right pilot line and characterization facilities. The project ran over 4 years and completed 10 showcases and over 15 democases.

Is there regulatory support or certification help?

The test bed includes non-technical services such as business planning, market analysis, economic impact assessment, and access to a network of over 300 investors. Based on available project data, regulatory navigation would be part of the coaching and technology transfer support offered through the consortium.

Can companies outside the consortium use this?

Yes. The Open Innovation Test Bed was explicitly designed for companies inside or outside Europe to access facilities and services through the Single Entry Point. The project targeted over 100 reachable SMEs as a key performance indicator.

Consortium

Who built it

INNOMEM has a strong, industry-heavy consortium of 35 partners from 11 countries, with 51% industry participation and 10 SMEs — well above average for an EU research project. The coordinator, Tecnalia (Spain), is one of Europe's largest applied research organizations. The balanced mix of 18 industry players, 9 universities, and 7 research centers means the project spans the full chain from lab research to factory floor. Countries represented include major manufacturing economies (Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands) and the geographic spread across Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Poland, Portugal, and the UK provides broad market access. This is not an academic exercise — over half the partners are companies that need membranes to work in real products.

How to reach the team

Tecnalia Research & Innovation (Spain) — search for INNOMEM project lead at Tecnalia

Order a report on this consortiumSee FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATION profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to find out which INNOMEM pilot line fits your filtration or separation challenge? SciTransfer can connect you with the right consortium partner and navigate the test bed access process.

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