Last September, Technophos, the R&D center for phosphorus technology in Varna (Bulgaria) celebrated its 10th anniversary. Veneta Dimitrova, Director of Technophos, shares some highlights on this inspiring adventure. “We started this company in 2013 with 3 employees and a drawing on a piece of paper. We did not only take the challenge to create the company, but also built a one-of-a-kind innovation and development center, A center designed to bring new technologies to life and to be the place where science, innovations and industry come together to meet the new and increasingly stringent demands of the phosphate world and sustainable development,” explains Veneta.
Over these 10 years, the team has participated in projects in Peru, Namibia, Kazakhstan, France and Egypt, tested raw materials from over 50 different reserves around the world and develop two new technologies that are now part of Prayon patents: the PUMA technology and PELP technology.
For Frédéric Meurice, Belgian Ambassador to Bulgaria who attended the ceremony, “Technophos is a modern, forward-looking company that is the pride of the collaboration between Belgium and Bulgaria.”
“It has been an incredible journey full of challenges but also beautiful encounters. In 2020, we were in the middle of Covid and were in great financial difficulties but fortunately Prayon, and one man in particular, Marc Collin, believed in the Technophos project and its potential, ” recollects Veneta. In April 2020, Prayon became the owner of Technophos.
Marc Collin, Chief Technology Officer of Prayon, explains: “Technophos and Prayon shared the same “phosphate DNA” and the same ambition to develop the circular economy. When the opportunity came, it was clear to me that we had to acquire Technophos even if I could not come to Varna because of Covid. Luckily Tibaut Theys and Alain Germeau had just visited the center in February 2020 and were amazed by the Technophos’ state-of-the-art facilities and the team expertise. So I trusted their impression.” In less than 3 months, the deal was signed and Prayon became the owner of Technophos. Finally, Marc was able to go to Varna and his visit confirmed that the match with Prayon was perfect: “Not only were the facilities state-of-the art but more importantly, I saw a huge potential in the Varna team made of passionate people, among which Veneta, but also PHD researchers at the cutting edge of phosphorus science.”
Since last spring, the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) has joined the Technophos adventure (as a co-shareholder) reinforcing the innovation ecosystem. Tangible projects have already been launched, among which the sustainable valorization of phosphate by-products to produce DCP Animal Feed and cleaned phosphoric Acid (PA) or a benchmarking on the best technologies for a sustainable valorization of phosphogypsum.
This partnership will clearly leverage the know-how to invent, develop and industrialize the sustainable technologies of today and tomorrow to protect our planet for the next 10 years and beyond.