A patent-oriented culture

A first key element in IFP's value development strategy is patents. From the start, IFP created a patent-oriented culture and became a pioneer in the sale of process licenses, especially in the refining sector.

Patentability is considered at the very start of a research project. IFP's industrial property experts are involved from the outset alongside the research and development project managers, and examine with them possible ways of deriving value from the results.

The JIP, an original form of co-operation between industry and research

Part of IFP's research is done in partnership with industry. Bilateral contracts and consortiums are employed as means of sharing research results.

Concurrently with these collaborations, IFP has for about ten years been using an original form of contract: the JIP (Joint Industry-funded Project). Relatively unfamiliar in France, it is enjoying a growing success with industrialists, who gain access to research results to which IFP retains the industrial property rights. An affordable solution with advantages on both sides.

• for IFP, it is a way to stay in close touch with the industrialists' concerns while sharing the risks,
• for the industrialists, it is an opportunity to benefit from IFP's expertise and its most sophisticated technologies.

The creation of industrial players of reference

The size and reputations of several industrial companies created by IFP illustrate the success of its value development policy. These companies are important vectors of technological transfer in IFP's areas of activity:
- exploration-production,
- refining and petrochemicals,
- engines and fuels,
- training.

IFP also assists the development of companies by acquiring equity holdings in them.
 

· Axens : refining technologies and catalysts

Axens, founded by IFP in 2001, has become one of the world leaders in refining technologies and catalysts for the production of clean fuels.
The company markets for example the Prime-G+ refining process, generally regarded as the world reference for the production of clean gasoline.
This cutting-edge technology illustrates IFP's ability to propose technological solutions that anticipate a tightening of international environmental standards.
 

· Technip : engineering and infrastructure for the oil & gas industry

This group, founded by IFP in 1958, today employs 21,000 people. It is the 5th largest company in the world in the engineering and construction of facilities for the oil & gas industry.
 

· Beicip-Franlab : consulting and software for the oil & gas industry

In exploration-production, IFP has developed its subsidiary Beicip-Franlab, a consulting and studies company that publishes geoscience software for the oil and gas industry.
It operates in more than 100 countries, for more than 500 oil companies and institutions. Its oil & gas reservoir modelling and simulation software programs (Athos, Temis, Dionisos) are world references.
 

· D2T : engineering and testing facilities for powertrain

Its purchase of the D2T company gives IFP an opportunity to enhance the creation of value from its research and development work in engines.
D2T specializes in the engineering and marketing of engine and powertrain testing equipment. An internationally recognized player in test bench automation, with sales of 30 million euros, D2T has operations in Europe, the United States, and Asia.
In D2T, IFP has found a vector for the dissemination of its technological innovations in clean and economical vehicles and for developing their value, by means of royalties.
 

· IFP-Training : in the service of continuing professional training

Through the IFP School, IFP has long experience of higher education.
In 2003, IFP founded ENSPM Formation Industrie - IFP Training in order to develop continuing professional training. This company has a staff of about a hundred people who train executives, managers, and technicians for the oil & gas industry, the petrochemicals-chemistry industry, and the automobile industry.
 

· Geogreen : an international engineering-services firm specializing in the transport and geological storage of CO₂

Geogreen was established when three large French players in this field – IFP, Geostock (an underground hydrocarbon storage company) and BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières) – teamed up to pool their expertise and venture into the worldwide CO₂ geological-storage market. The seamlessly complementary technical skills that Geogreen specialists can share enable it to provide a wide spectrum of services spanning the full CO₂ transport and geological-storage chain, encompassing upstream expertise, project engineering, and development.
 

And tomorrow? IFP is doing a large amount of research and development work on such new energy technologies as biofuels and CO₂. This work will certainly lead to additional business start-ups or stakeholdings with a view to transfering and making the most of IFP innovations.