Our research and expertise centers

With its network of research and expertise centers, SUEZ offers advanced technical and scientific know-how in water and waste that is capable of solving the new challenges facing our customers.
Our research centers

10 R&D centers of excellence in France and Asia

To go ever further in creating innovative circular solutions in water and waste, the Group relies on a network of 150 researchers. This network works to develop new solutions and validate technologies for the Group's operating units and their customers.

CIRSEE – Paris (France)

The Paris-based International Water and Environmental Research Centre (CIRSEE) specializes in the production of drinking water, water distribution networks, the treatment and reuse of waste water, waste recycling, the management of health and environmental risks and, finally, data analysis.

SUEZ, guided tour at the heart of R&I - SUEZ

Credit: SUEZ group

120
researchers, engineers and experts

3

sites

Le Pecq - Croissy - Narbonne

7
technological platforms

The CIRSEE is SUEZ’s main competences center. It plays a leading role in the coordination of the Group’s international technical and scientific network. Its mission is to identify and develop the scientific, technical and technological skills necessary to underpin the operational excellence of our performance and develop new services for our customers.

CIRSEE is organized around 7 research platforms

  • physico-chemical treatment for drinking water production (TREATlab)
  • biological processes for wastewater treatment (BIOPROCESSlab)
  • plastics from recycled products (PLASTlab)
  • ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes (MEMlab)
  • sensors and measurement solutions (SENSORlab)
  • organic waste recovery (BIORESOURCElab)
  • water chemistry and materials for distribution networks (PIPElab)


a cross-disciplinary team dedicated to health and environmental issues and 3 state-of-the-art laboratories for water, materials and biology analysis.

Le LyRE - Bordeaux (France)

Located on the Bordeaux University campus since 2011, the Le Lyre center initiates, supports and coordinates research projects involving universities, businesses and public or private institutions.
30
collaborators
+ 100
external collaborators
28
ongoing research projects

Located on the Bordeaux University campus since 2011, the Le Lyre center initiates, supports and coordinates research projects involving universities, businesses and public or private institutions.

 

As the interface between a major organization and local players, the Le Lyre center connects the operatives in the water sector to the researchers and identifies the right partners to propose innovative solutions to solve local issues and to provide answers to the questions raised by operators and local government. The Le Lyre center is organized into four fields of research and expertise: Network / Environment / Players and users / Data. This multidisciplinarity approach, is in the very genes of Le Lyre, enables the center to offer concrete solutions to its customers.

Singapore Research Centre – Singapore

The SUEZ Singapore Research Centre,  specializes in the implementation of innovative solutions for the management of urban water (automated meter-reading, storm water management) and the reuse of wastewater.

This research center is the result of a memorandum of understanding signed in June 2015 by Singapore's National Water Agency, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and SUEZ. SUEZ has chosen Singapore, one of Southeast Asia's leading economic and commercial centers, recognized for its expertise and strong commitment to the sustainable management of its resources,as a hub for regional development with the establishment of this innovation center.

Chongqing Sino French Environmental Research and R&D Centre - Chonging (Chine)

Established in 2012 by SUEZ with Chongqing Water Group, Chongqing Water Environmental Holding Group, and Chongqing Derun Environment, the center develops environmental solutions for applications such as operations and maintenance, process optimization, testing of new technologies, and quality and material testing; promotes knowledge transfer from SUEZ to the Chongqing area; cultivates local talent; and shares research resources and achievements with local research institutes.
Our areas of expertise

Innovating for circular solutions in water and waste 

We address the multiple issues of resource management thanks to our pool of 150 researchers and 1,100 technical experts worldwide. This network develops new solutions and tests technologies for our operational entities and customers.

Alternative water resources

We’re faced with the rising scarcity of resources and the increase in demand for drinking water, so SUEZ is developing technologies to create alternative resources. The production of drinking water, the artificial aquifer recharge, the water recycling and the desalination of seawater and brackish water all part and parcel to this plan.

The water treatment process

From the production of drinking water to the treatment of water for industrial use, we develop and implement a broad range of expert know-how and technologies, including simple treatments (sedimentation, filtration, etc.) and more advanced processes (disinfection by ozone or UV rays, advanced membrane-based processes, such as reverse osmosis).

Better water distribution networks

The effective management of the distribution networks located downstream of the drinking water production plants allows water to be delivered to the consumer’s tap, with increased quality and quantity. SUEZ achieves this by developing and applying a broad range of expertise, from leak management, to the real-time control of distribution networks and the assessing the condition of the pipes.

Improving wastewater treatment & resource recovery

This specific expertise and our corresponding technology are applied to treat urban and industrial wastewater, in order to limit its impact on the environment. This more advanced process is designed to eliminate micro-pollutants and other emerging pollutants. We’ve also developed an innovative technology to make use of the resources contained in wastewater (the energy in sludge or nitrogen and phosphorous, which can be used as fertilizer).

Better storm water systems

The purpose of storm water management is to minimize the impact of periods of heavy rain on inhabitants and the environment, by limiting flooding, minimizing the discharge of untreated water directly into the environment and avoiding the saturation of water treatment stations. We’ve developed not only the skills required to design the urban drainage infrastructure, but also the tools that monitor water networks in real-time.

More accurate analysis and sensors

We possess comprehensive analytical skills that are required to measure the quality of drinking water, wastewater, industrial water, waste and the receiving water. SUEZ has all the skills and the most advanced equipment to measure physical-chemical (temperature, pH, hardness, etc.) or biochemical parameters (concentration of micro-organisms). We can create data models to produce a more global view, to develop strategies to better assess risks to health and to the environment and then minimize them.

Waste recovery

In a world where resources are becoming increasingly scarce, the recycling and reuse of waste are more necessary than ever before.

Recycling recovers the secondary raw materials in waste, which can then be returned to the industrial manufacturing process. We’ve developed methods to characterize waste.

Waternomics

Looking beyond the technical aspects, the distribution of water and sanitation also impact non-technological issues related to the social and economic aspects of the water management cycle. The experts at SUEZ address numerous subjects, ranging from water demand forecasts to the analysis of the socio-economic and environmental impacts of water supply systems and the assessment of consumer behaviour.