Centre Terre et Pierre

What Centre Terre et Pierre does

Centre Terre et Pierre (CTP) is an accredited Walloon Research Centre of Excellence founded in 1996 (or 1998 per the company timeline) and headquartered in Tournai, Belgium. It provides applied R&D services across three divisions — Mineral Processing, Extractive Metallurgy, and Circular Materials — supplemented by Laboratory Analysis (Chemistry, Physics, Mineralogy) and Thermal Processes. The centre operates over 10,000 m² of pilot halls and 10,000 m³ of testing volume, with capabilities spanning crushing, grinding, flotation, magnetic/electrostatic separation, hydro- and pyrometallurgy, and rotary furnaces up to 1,150°C. It serves mining companies, industrial waste recyclers, Walloon SMEs, and international industrial partners — including a recent Australian graphite engagement targeting high-purity battery-grade material at TRL5.

CTP generates revenue through three service lines: Studies & Tests (flowsheet development and pilot validation), R&D (project setup, funding search, and partner matching supported by Walloon innovation schemes such as C-WALity, Marshall plan, FEDER and INTERREG, plus French Research Tax Credit accreditation), and Contract Services (custom processing at scales from hundreds of kilos to several tons). The go-to-market is sales-led and B2B, with quote-based multi-year contracts; 86% of activities are in direct or indirect collaboration with industrial partners, and 42% of 2024 sales were international. 2024 revenue was €5.43 million with a record cashflow of €593,000, and a 2025-2030 strategic plan commits over €7 million to expand capacity. CTP holds ISO 9001 certification (renewed 2025) and is governed as an independent non-profit association under Belgian law, led by General Manager Stéphane Neirynck.

Name

Centre Terre et Pierre

Legal name

Centre Terre et Pierre

Website

https://ctp.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Centre Terre et Pierre (CTP) is a Belgian accredited research centre in Tournai providing applied R&D, pilot-scale testing, and contract processing in mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, and circular materials for mining, recycling, and industrial clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mineral Processing R&D Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAKAOAE

Process Plant & Materials Handling EPC (Crushing, Conveying, Stockpiles, Loadout)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Metals & Mining/Mine Development, Engineering & EPC (Design, Construction, Closure & Reclamation)

SECONDARYBPALAHAI

Laboratory & R&D Chemical Waste Management

Business & Public Services/Waste Management & Remediation Services/Industrial & Chemical Waste Management

SECONDARYEUAIABAB

Construction & Demolition (C&D) Debris Transfer & Processing

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Services (Waste Management, Recycling & Remediation)/Transfer Stations & Material Handling

Keywords

• Mineral processing R&D
• Extractive metallurgy
• Circular materials development
• Industrial waste recycling
• Pilot-scale testing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tournai

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Studies and Testing Services: Development of processing and valorisation flowsheets, laboratory and pilot-scale testing services for mineral processing, material characterization, and recycling solutions
2. Contract Services: Contract manufacturing and processing services including crushing, grinding, classification, and thermal treatments using over 10,000m² of test floors and pilot-sized equipment
3. Research and Development: R&D project collaboration with industrial partners, supported by Walloon Region innovation schemes (C-WALity, Marshall plan), and French Research Tax Credit collaborations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Centre Terre et Pierre (CTP) is an accredited Belgian R&D centre providing scientific studies, pilot-scale testing, contract processing, and laboratory analysis for mineral processing, extractive metallurgy (hydro- and pyrometallurgy), circular materials development, and thermal processes. Services are delivered to industrial clients exploring and developing mineral deposits, recycling industrial and post-consumer waste, and valorising secondary raw materials, with capacity ranging from hundreds of kilos to several tons per batch using 10,000 m² of pilot halls.

Product overview

CTP is a Research Centre of Excellence offering an integrated portfolio of services focused on mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, and circular materials. The core service offerings include Studies & Tests (developing treatment flowsheets), Research & Development (innovative recycling solutions), Contract Services (custom processing work), and Laboratory Analysis (chemical and physical characterization). These services are supported by multidisciplinary teams and pilot-scale equipment across over 9,000 m² of test facilities. The centre specializes in processing minerals, industrial by-products, and post-consumption waste to create new secondary raw materials and materials with higher added value.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Studies & Tests (Études & Essais)

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% of activities in direct or indirect collaboration with industrial partners
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Centre de Recherche Métallurgique (CRM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration within the Reverse Metallurgy (RM+) portfolio for industrial value chains, energy transition, and circular economy projects. Partners work together on critical materials recycling for electric mobility and energy transition technologies.
• University of Liège (GeMMe, GREEnMat, PEPs)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Academic partnership for research on extractive metallurgy, circular materials, and sustainable materials development. University laboratories provide scientific support for CTP research projects.
• IDETA – Agence de Développement TerritorialcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership for the MC² (Matières Critiques & Circular Economy) Technopôle project, a Cleantech Wallonia initiative to accelerate decarbonisation of the Earth and Stone industry.
• NWE-REGENERATIS ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021INTERREG North-West Europe project on circular economy via customisable furniture with recycled materials for public places (CIRMAP project).
• Walloon Region (SPW-EER)coreOthersGovernment partner providing funding through innovation support schemes including C-WALity programme, Marshall plan projects, and various FEDER and INTERREG programs. Public funding increased 25% in 2024.
• Remind Wallonia PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation platform for recycling and material recovery in Wallonia, facilitating collaborative R&D projects between industry and research centres.
• Reverse Metallurgy (RM+)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation platform focused on critical materials recycling and reverse metallurgy processes, hosting projects like CISTEMEEC for lithium-ion battery recycling.
• Greenwin ClusterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalloon competitiveness cluster providing support for collaborative R&D projects in the materials and circular economy sectors.
• Mécatech ClusterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalloon competitiveness cluster for innovative manufacturing technologies supporting CTP projects on material development.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CSIRO: Australia's national science agency, with substantial mineral processing, hydrometallurgy, and critical minerals research capabilities. Comparable to CTP's applied R&D mandate and connection to Australian mining clients like CTP's graphite partner.
• TETRA Tech: Engineering and consulting firm with strong mining, minerals processing, and environmental consulting practices. Comparable to CTP's engineering consulting work and industrial waste/circular economy engagements.
• SGS: Global testing, inspection, and certification company with a substantial minerals services business covering geometallurgy, mineral processing, and trade-related testing. Overlaps with CTP's laboratory and pilot services for the mining industry.
• Bureau Veritas: International TIC firm offering minerals and metals testing services to mining and metals customers. Comparable in laboratory analysis and industrial quality assurance, though with much broader portfolio and global footprint.
• BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières): France's geological survey with significant mineral resources and extractive metallurgy research activities. Comparable to CTP's scientific capabilities and French-market collaboration overlap, though operating at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Fraunhofer Institute (IKTS and related): German applied research network with institutes (e.g., IKTS) focused on materials and process engineering, including recycling and circular materials. Overlaps with CTP's circular materials and extractive metallurgy R&D mandate.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Applied research organization with materials and circular economy programs. Comparable to CTP in mission (contract R&D for industry) and multidisciplinary pilot capabilities, though with much broader technology scope.

Emerging players

• Recycling Innovation Forum / Reverse Metallurgy consortiums: Walloon/EU consortiums and platforms (e.g., Reverse Metallurgy / RM+, Remind Wallonia) where CTP is itself a partner. Comparable emerging R&D alliances focused on critical materials recycling and circular economy applied research.

Direct peers

• Mintek: South Africa's national mineral technology R&D center, providing mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, and pilot-plant services to mining and recycling clients. Closest analog to CTP by mandate, offering, and customer base.
• Hatch Ltd: Engineering and project management consultancy with deep mining, metals, and extractive metallurgy expertise, including flowsheet development and pilot testing services. Directly comparable on mineral processing consulting and EPC-adjacent work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ctp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centre Terre et Pierre