Syensqo
Belgian multinational specialty chemicals and advanced materials company created through the 2023 spin-off of Solvay.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Syensqo is a Belgian multinational company focused on specialty chemicals, advanced materials, composites, specialty polymers and performance-oriented chemical solutions. Headquartered in Brussels, it was created in December 2023 when Solvay separated its Materials, Composites and Solutions activities into a new, independently listed company. The separation was intended to give the two resulting businesses greater strategic focus and flexibility: Solvay retained much of the historic soda ash, peroxides, silica and related chemical portfolio, while Syensqo took businesses oriented toward higher-performance materials, specialty polymers, composites and selected consumer and industrial chemical applications. The company’s name links the new organization to Solvay’s scientific heritage. “SY” refers to the first and last letters of Solvay, while “EN” references Ernest Solvay, the company’s founder. The name also evokes the Solvay scientific conferences, which began in 1911 and became associated with leading research in chemistry and physics; the “Q” is a reference to quantum science, and the final letters identify the corporate identity of the new company. Syensqo is pronounced broadly as “Science Co.” The separation plan was announced by Solvay in 2022 and approved by shareholders on December 8, 2023. Syensqo began operating as an independent company and its shares started trading on Euronext Brussels and Euronext Paris on December 11, 2023. The company subsequently announced an intention to delist from Euronext Paris in September 2024, while retaining its public-market presence in Brussels. Ilham Kadri, formerly Solvay’s chief executive, became Syensqo’s first CEO. According to the referenced company description, Mike Radossich succeeded her as CEO in January 2026. Syensqo organizes its activities into two principal segments: Materials and Performance & Care. Materials includes composite materials and specialty polymers. Its composites portfolio covers carbon-fiber materials, thermoset and thermoplastic systems, prepregs, resin systems, adhesives, surface treatments and lightning-strike protection products. These materials serve aerospace, automotive, transportation, energy and other industrial markets where low weight, durability and structural performance are important. Its specialty-polymers business supplies high-performance plastics and fluorinated materials for demanding thermal, chemical, electrical and mechanical environments. Applications include electronics, semiconductor processing, healthcare, filtration, energy storage, automotive systems and industrial equipment. Performance & Care supplies specialty chemicals such as surfactants, polymers, solvents, additives, emulsifiers and formulation ingredients. These products are used in consumer care, home and personal care, agriculture, coatings, adhesives, mining and metal recovery. The company also emphasizes growth platforms connected with batteries, green hydrogen, thermoplastic composites, renewable materials, biotechnology and circular or bio-based chemistry. Its technologies include materials for electrochemical systems, metal extraction and separation, and formulations containing renewable or recycled feedstocks. Syensqo operates internationally. The referenced material describes a network of 54 industrial sites and 12 major research and innovation centers across 30 countries, with approximately 13,000 employees. Its geographic footprint includes production and research activities in North and South America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Notable activities are located in the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, India and South Korea. Beyond commercial operations, Syensqo presents itself as a science-led organization. It sponsors research and innovation initiatives, maintains a Scientific Advisory Board, supports the Climate Impulse green-hydrogen aviation project and sponsors the DS Penske Formula E team. Through the Syensqo Fund, it also supports the Science for the Future Ernest Solvay Prize, which recognizes significant achievements in chemistry. The company remains connected to the scientific and industrial legacy of Solvay while positioning itself around advanced materials, specialty chemistry and technologies intended to support electrification, lower-carbon production and resource efficiency. Syensqo has also attracted scrutiny because part of its United Kingdom manufacturing activity is connected to the supply chain for the Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicle. Activists have argued that this relationship conflicts with Belgium’s military-embargo policy toward Israel, particularly after a Hermes 450 was identified in reporting about the April 1, 2024 attack that killed World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza. Syensqo has stated that it is active in the defense-industry value chain but does not produce weapons, describing its business as a mixture of activities rather than direct arms production.
History
Syensqo emerged from Solvay’s decision to divide its operations into two separately listed companies. Solvay announced the intended separation in 2022, arguing that independent ownership structures would allow each business to pursue a more focused strategy. The retained Solvay organization kept major historic activities such as soda ash, peroxides, silica and Coatis, while the new Syensqo organization received the Materials, Composites and Solutions activities. The new company was established in December 2023. Its name was designed to preserve a connection with Solvay while signaling a future-oriented, science-based identity. The first and last letters of Solvay form “SY”; “EN” refers to Ernest Solvay. The remainder of the name alludes to the scientific culture associated with the Solvay Conferences, which began in 1911, and to quantum science. The pronunciation “Science Co” reinforces the company’s emphasis on research and technical innovation. On December 8, 2023, Solvay shareholders approved the separation. The transaction became effective on December 11, when Syensqo shares were admitted to trading on Euronext Brussels and Euronext Paris. Ilham Kadri, who had been chief executive of Solvay, became Syensqo’s first CEO, while Philippe Kehren led the reconstituted Solvay. Syensqo soon joined the BEL20 index. In September 2024, it announced plans to delist from Euronext Paris, simplifying its exchange presence while maintaining its public listing in Brussels. Syensqo’s operating model is built around two broad segments. Materials includes composite materials and specialty polymers. The composites business supplies carbon-fiber materials, prepregs, thermoset and thermoplastic systems, resin systems, adhesives, surface treatments and lightning-strike protection products. These are used in aircraft structures, propulsion-related components, vehicles, energy equipment and other applications where high strength-to-weight ratios and durability are required. The specialty-polymers business supplies high-performance plastics, fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers, fluorinated fluids, barrier polymers, polyamides, sulfone polymers and related materials for demanding chemical, thermal and electrical environments. Performance & Care supplies specialty ingredients and formulation technologies. Its products include surfactants, polymers, solvents, monomers, emulsifiers and additives for consumer care, home and personal care, coatings, adhesives, agriculture, mining and metal recovery. The company has also identified growth opportunities in batteries, green hydrogen, thermoplastic composites, renewable materials, biotechnology and circular chemistry. Some products use renewable or recycled feedstocks, while others support metal separation, electrochemical processes and lower-resource industrial systems. The company operates internationally through a network described in the reference material as 54 industrial sites and 12 major research and innovation centers in 30 countries, employing approximately 13,000 people. Its footprint extends through the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific, with facilities and research capabilities in countries including the United States, Canada, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, China, India and South Korea. Research and scientific engagement have remained central to the company’s public identity. Syensqo became a sponsor of DS Penske in Formula E in 2024, connecting the brand with electric mobility. It also became a main partner of Climate Impulse, a project seeking to fly a green-hydrogen aircraft around the world. In the same year, it announced a Scientific Advisory Board involving Ben Feringa, Avelino Corma, Karim Zaghib and Juan de Pablo. Through the Syensqo Fund, the company supports the Science for the Future Ernest Solvay Prize, an evolution of the earlier Solvay Prize. Listed laureates include Peter G. Schultz, Ben Feringa, Susumu Kitagawa, Carolyn Bertozzi, Katalin Karikó and Omar Yaghi; the referenced material identifies Xiaowei Zhuang as the 2026 recipient. The company has faced criticism concerning its connection to defense manufacturing. A United Kingdom facility makes a component associated with the Hermes 450 unmanned aircraft for UAV Tactical Systems, which is co-owned by Elbit Systems and Thales. The aircraft model was used by Israel in the April 1, 2024 attack that killed World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers in Gaza. In June 2025, activists protested at Syensqo’s Brussels headquarters, demanding respect for Belgium’s military embargo toward Israel. Syensqo responded that it does participate in the defense-industry value chain but does not manufacture weapons, characterizing its activities as varied rather than direct weapons production.
- 2025
Brussels headquarters protest
[1]Activists protested Syensqo’s defense-industry supply-chain relationship and demanded compliance with Belgium’s military embargo toward Israel.
- 2024
Formula E partnership begins
[1]Syensqo became a sponsor of DS Penske under a three-year partnership.
- 2024
Climate Impulse partnership announced
[1]Syensqo joined the Climate Impulse project as a main partner in an initiative focused on green-hydrogen aviation.
- 2024
Paris delisting intention announced
[1]Syensqo announced its intention to delist from Euronext Paris.
- 2023
Syensqo established
[1]Syensqo was established in December 2023 as the advanced-materials and specialty-chemicals company resulting from Solvay’s separation.
- 2023
Shareholders approve the split
[1]Solvay shareholders approved the plan to separate the company into Solvay and Syensqo on December 8.
- 2023
Public listing begins
[1]Syensqo shares began trading on Euronext Brussels and Euronext Paris on December 11.
- 2022
Solvay announces planned separation
[1]Solvay announced its intention to create two independent listed companies, with the future Syensqo receiving the Materials, Composites and Solutions activities.
- 1911
Beginning of the Solvay Conferences
[1]The scientific conference tradition associated with Ernest Solvay began, later serving as part of the scientific heritage invoked by the Syensqo name.
Products and positioning
A science-led global supplier of specialty chemicals and advanced materials, positioned around high-performance applications, industrial innovation, electrification, lower-carbon technologies and resource efficiency.
Advanced polymers
Specialty polymers
Syensqo supplies high-performance polymer families designed for demanding thermal, mechanical and chemical environments. The portfolio includes polysulfone-based materials, polyamides, liquid-crystal polymers, polyaryletherketones such as PEEK and PEKK, high-barrier polymers and polymer stabilizers. These materials are used in filtration, medical technologies, electronics, automotive systems, industrial processing and other applications where conventional plastics may not provide sufficient heat resistance, strength or chemical durability.
Fluorinated materials
Fluoropolymers and fluoroelastomers
The company produces fluoropolymers including PVDF, ECTFE and PTFE, together with FKM and FFKM fluoroelastomers and PFPE fluorinated fluids. These materials are used in semiconductor manufacturing, electronics, chemical processing, energy, lubrication and high-temperature sealing. The portfolio also includes fluorinated materials intended to avoid certain fluorosurfactants associated with conventional PFAS chemistry, as well as PFSA ionomers for fuel cells and water electrolysis.
Composites
Composite materials
Syensqo develops thermoset and thermoplastic composite systems, carbon-fiber materials, prepregs, resin formulations and structural adhesives. It also supplies adhesive films and pastes, surface-treatment products and lightning-strike protection materials. These offerings are used in aerospace structures, propulsion-related components, automotive and transportation systems, energy equipment and industrial products that require low weight, high strength and resistance to fatigue or environmental exposure.
Specialty chemicals
Performance and care chemicals
This portfolio includes surfactants, natural and synthetic polymers, solvents, additives, monomers and emulsifiers. The materials function as ingredients, formulation aids or performance enhancers in personal and home care, coatings, adhesives, agriculture and industrial applications. Syensqo also supplies chemicals used in mining and the recovery or separation of metals such as lithium, nickel and cobalt.
Sustainable materials
Bio-based and circular materials
Syensqo develops polymers, composites and surfactants that incorporate renewable or recycled feedstocks. These materials are intended for consumer care, electronics, automotive, transportation and industrial applications. The offering reflects the company’s broader focus on reducing dependence on fossil resources, supporting circularity and providing lower-impact alternatives while preserving the technical performance required by demanding end markets.
Controversies
2025
Protest over defense-industry supply-chain links
Activists protested outside Syensqo’s Brussels headquarters over the company’s connection to production of a component for the Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicle. The aircraft model was used by Israel in the April 1, 2024 attack that killed World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers in Gaza. Syensqo said that it participates in the defense-industry value chain but does not manufacture weapons.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024DS Penske Formula E partnership
Global
Syensqo entered a three-year sponsorship partnership with DS Penske in Formula E. The partnership supports brand visibility around electric mobility and provides a platform for presenting the relevance of advanced materials to electrified transportation.
Outcome. The partnership established a visible association between Syensqo, electric racing and technology-oriented mobility.
- 2024Climate Impulse
Global
Syensqo became a main partner of Climate Impulse alongside Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and OCP Group. The project aims to develop a green-hydrogen aircraft and attempt a nonstop flight around the Equator by 2028.
Outcome. The initiative positioned Syensqo as a technology partner in a high-profile green-hydrogen and low-carbon aviation project.
- 2024Science for the Future Ernest Solvay Prize
Global
Through the Syensqo Fund, the company supports the Science for the Future Ernest Solvay Prize, formerly known as the Solvay Prize. The award recognizes major contributions to chemistry and maintains a link with the scientific tradition associated with Ernest Solvay.
Outcome. The prize serves as a scientific-reputation and research-recognition platform for the Syensqo brand.
Brand decisions
2026
Change chief executiveOtherBackground
Syensqo’s leadership changed after its first period as an independent public company.
Action taken
Mike Radossich succeeded Ilham Kadri as chief executive.
Aftermath
Radossich became the company’s chief executive while Kadri’s tenure as CEO ended.
2024
Pursue delisting from Euronext ParisStrategyBackground
After becoming listed on both Euronext Brussels and Euronext Paris, Syensqo reviewed its exchange structure.
Action taken
The company announced its intention to delist from Euronext Paris.
Aftermath
The announcement indicated a move toward a more concentrated public listing structure, although the referenced material does not provide the final completion date.
2024
Create a Scientific Advisory BoardOtherBackground
Syensqo sought to strengthen external scientific guidance for its innovation activities and growth platforms.
Action taken
The company announced a board involving Ben Feringa, Avelino Corma, Karim Zaghib and Juan de Pablo.
Aftermath
The advisory structure reinforced Syensqo’s positioning as a research-led advanced-materials and specialty-chemicals company.
2023
Complete the Solvay spin-offM&ABackground
The separation required shareholder approval and the transfer of designated Solvay business activities into a new corporate entity.
Action taken
Shareholders approved the plan on December 8, and Syensqo became operational and publicly traded on December 11.
Aftermath
Syensqo operated as an independent public company, with Ilham Kadri as its initial CEO.
2022
Separate Solvay’s businesses into two listed companiesStrategyBackground
Solvay concluded that its established commodity-chemical activities and its advanced-materials and specialty-solutions activities would benefit from separate strategic priorities and operating structures.
Action taken
The company announced a plan to create Syensqo as an independently listed company containing the Materials, Composites and Solutions activities.
Aftermath
The separation was approved by shareholders in December 2023 and became effective when Syensqo began trading on December 11, 2023.
Recent events
- 2026
Mike Radossich succeeds Ilham Kadri as CEO[1]
Leadership change
Mike Radossich succeeded Ilham Kadri as Syensqo’s chief executive.
- 2024
Syensqo announces intention to delist from Euronext Paris[1]
Other
The company announced its intention to withdraw its shares from Euronext Paris while continuing its public listing in Brussels.
- 2024
Syensqo sponsors DS Penske in Formula E[1]
Campaign
Syensqo entered a three-year sponsorship partnership with the DS Penske Formula E racing team, linking its brand to electric mobility and advanced materials.
- 2024
Syensqo joins Climate Impulse green-hydrogen aviation project[1]
Campaign · Other
Syensqo became a main partner of the Climate Impulse project, which aims to develop a green-hydrogen aircraft capable of flying around the world.
- 2024
Syensqo appoints Scientific Advisory Board[1]
Leadership change · Other
The company announced a Scientific Advisory Board involving chemists and materials researchers Ben Feringa, Avelino Corma, Karim Zaghib and Juan de Pablo.
- 2023
Solvay shareholders approve separation into Solvay and Syensqo[1]
M&A
Shareholders approved the plan to separate Solvay’s activities into two independently listed companies, with Syensqo receiving the Materials, Composites and Solutions businesses.
- 2023
Syensqo begins trading on Euronext[1]
M&A · Other
The separation became effective and Syensqo shares began trading on Euronext Brussels and Euronext Paris on December 11, 2023.
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