RICE
RICE (operating as NaTran R&I) is the research and innovation center of NaTran Groupe, developing solutions to transform gas infrastructure for hydrogen, CO2 and renewable methane integration. It serves gas operators, industrial firms, manufacturers and research centers across France and Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersVilleneuve-la-garenne, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What RICE does
RICE operates as NaTran R&I, the dedicated research and innovation center of French energy infrastructure operator NaTran Groupe. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, France, with additional research sites in Alfortville, Bois-Colombes and the Sibelius and Jupiter 1000 facilities, the center employs 51-100 staff focused on transforming gas infrastructure for the energy transition.
Its technology is organized around five branded research programmes — H2 & CO2 (preparing networks for hydrogen and CO2 carriers), IMPACT (reducing environmental impacts of the gas chain), NEW CH4 (renewable methane readiness), PREPARE (future-network modeling and piloting) and SENTINEL (integrity and security of gas infrastructure) — supported by an innovation ecosystem comprising Nova by NaTran and the Open Innovation Factory for startup and external collaboration.
Commercially, the center runs an enterprise field-sales model targeting gas infrastructure operators, industrial companies, equipment manufacturers, research centers and innovative enterprises; engagement is driven through direct outreach, an annual event ('NaTran R&I for Tomorrow'), and website-based contact. It reports roughly 40 clients across France and internationally, 10+ institutional and academic partners, and 12+ innovation projects supported per year, with partners including GRDF, Storengy, Terega, EDF, RTE, TotalEnergies, EPRG and Horizon Europe. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and revenue is not separately reported, consistent with its function as a captive R&D center of NaTran Groupe.
RICE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RICE
- Legal name
- NaTran R&I
- Website
- https://researchbyrice.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- RICE (operating as NaTran R&I) is the research and innovation center of NaTran Groupe, developing solutions to transform gas infrastructure for hydrogen, CO2 and renewable methane integration. It serves gas operators, industrial firms, manufacturers and research centers across France and Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RICE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Energy Infrastructure R&D Services
- NAICS
- Mining and Oil and Gas Field Machinery Manufacturing (33313)
- SIC
- Natural Gas Transmisison & Distribution (4923)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biogas/RNG Plant Operations, Maintenance & Asset Management (EUAAAEAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- SCADA, Controls & Communications Integration (RTU, Fiber, Networking) (EUAEADAD)
Keywords
Where RICE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Villeneuve-la-garenne
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
RICE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
RICE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RICE (operating as NaTran R&I) is a research and innovation center that develops solutions for transforming gas infrastructure, preparing networks for hydrogen, CO2, and renewable methane, and supporting decarbonation, operational performance, and industrial safety for gas and energy operators. It delivers these capabilities through five specialized research programmes (H2 & CO2, IMPACT, NEW CH4, PREPARE, SENTINEL) and an innovation ecosystem comprising Nova by NaTran and the Open Innovation Factory.
Product overview
NaTran R&I operates as a research and innovation center offering a portfolio of specialized solutions for the energy sector, organized into three strategic pillars: Decarbonation, Performance, and Security. The company delivers services through structured research programmes including H2 & CO2, IMPACT, NEW CH4, PREPARE, and SENTINEL, each addressing specific challenges in gas network transformation. The offerings are supported by an innovation ecosystem comprising Nova by NaTran and the Open Innovation Factory, which enable collaborative development with external partners and startups. The company serves clients including manufacturers, industrial operators, gas infrastructure operators, and research centers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Nova by NaTran: Part of the NaTran R&I innovation ecosystem, Nova provides innovation support services.
- Open Innovation Factory
Products and services
- H2 & CO2 Programme Research programme preparing gas networks for the arrival of hydrogen and CO2, addressing infrastructure adaptation needs for future energy carriers.
- IMPACT Programme Research programme focused on reducing the environmental impacts of the gas chain, supporting decarbonation of energy infrastructure.
- NEW CH4 Programme Programme preparing gas networks for the arrival of renewable methanes, supporting the integration of biogas and synthetic methane.
- PREPARE Programme Research programme focused on adapting, modeling, and piloting future energy networks to meet evolving industrial requirements.
- SENTINEL Programme Programme focused on mastering the integrity and security of gas infrastructures, ensuring industrial safety and risk management.
- Décarbonation Solutions Service offerings focused on decarbonation of energy infrastructure, helping clients reduce carbon emissions from gas networks and operations.
- Performance Solutions Service offerings focused on optimizing operational performance of energy networks, improving efficiency and reliability.
- Sécurité Solutions Service offerings focused on industrial security, ensuring protection of assets, people, and the environment against technological risks.
- Nova by NaTran Innovation ecosystem component under NaTran's R&I ecosystem, supporting collaborative innovation initiatives with startups and external innovators.
- Open Innovation Factory Open innovation platform facilitating collaboration with startups and external innovators to accelerate energy transition solutions.
Companies that use RICE
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
RICE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
RICE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- RTEcoreNaTran R&I and RTE signed an R&D collaboration agreement for network surveillance. RTE is France's electricity transmission system operator, and this partnership focuses on developing surveillance technologies for energy networks.
- GRDFcoreGRDF is a key partner in collaborative R&I projects focused on gas distribution network transformation and decarbonization. GRDF is France's largest gas distribution network operator.
- StorengycoreStorengy collaborates with NaTran R&I on gas storage and infrastructure projects, contributing expertise in underground gas storage operations.
- TeregacoreTerega partners with NaTran R&I on gas transmission infrastructure research and development, focusing on network modernization and performance optimization.
- EDFcoreEDF collaborates with NaTran R&I on energy transition projects, combining expertise in electricity and gas infrastructure for integrated energy solutions.
- TotalEnergiescoreTotalEnergies partners with NaTran R&I on decarbonization research and energy infrastructure projects, contributing industrial expertise and resources to collaborative R&D initiatives.
- EPRG (European Partnership for Railway Gas)minorEPRG is a European research partnership focused on gas technologies. NaTran R&I participates in EPRG initiatives for knowledge sharing and collaborative research at the European level.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
RICE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- INERIS: French public research institute specializing in industrial safety and environmental risk, including for gas and hydrogen infrastructure. Directly comparable to NaTran R&I's SENTINEL programme on infrastructure integrity and safety.
- ENGIE Research & Innovation: ENGIE's central R&D arm operates a comparable energy transition research portfolio (hydrogen, biomethane, infrastructure decarbonization) for a major French gas/electricity player. It is the closest direct competitor in scale, scope, and customer base within France.
- GRTgaz R&D (now part of NaTran ecosystem): Related transmission system operator with overlapping mandate on hydrogen blending, CCUS pilots, and network surveillance. Directly tied to the NaTran Groupe lineage and shares pilot infrastructure with NaTran R&I.
- GRDF (R&D division): France's largest gas distributor maintains its own R&D and innovation programs focused on distribution network decarbonization and biomethane/hydrogen integration. GRDF is also a NaTran R&I client/partner, making it a customer-competitor hybrid peer.
- EDF R&D: EDF's corporate research division conducts applied R&D on energy systems, including hydrogen and CCUS, and is both a NaTran R&I partner and a peer in the French energy R&D landscape. Overlapping scopes and shared infrastructure design expertise make it a direct comparable.
Broad incumbents
- DNV (Energy Systems research): Global energy consultancy and certification body with extensive R&D in hydrogen, CCUS, and pipeline integrity. Provides similar advisory/test services to gas operators internationally, with much broader scope and scale.
- TotalEnergies R&D (OneTech): TotalEnergies' central R&D division covers decarbonization, hydrogen, and CCUS. Functions as both a NaTran R&I partner and a broader peer given overlapping program areas and industrial customer base.
Regional players
- Fluxys Belgium R&D: Belgian gas infrastructure operator with hydrogen and biomethane programs serving as a regional peer across European gas networks. Comparable business model and target infrastructure, with similar regulatory and EU funding exposure.
- Open Grid Europe (OGE) Innovation: Major German gas transmission operator with active H2 readiness and biomethane R&D initiatives. Comparable in scope and customer type (TSO-side infrastructure transformation) but operates in a different geographic market.
Emerging players
- SINTEF Energy Research: Norwegian applied research institute with strong hydrogen and CCS programs and European gas industry partnerships. Comparable as a non-utility-affiliated research center operating in similar energy transition domains.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
RICE social profiles
Digital presenceRICE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RICE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
RICE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RICE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RICE
What does RICE do?
RICE (operating as NaTran R&I) is a research and innovation center that develops solutions for transforming gas infrastructure, preparing networks for hydrogen, CO2, and renewable methane, and supporting decarbonation, operational performance, and industrial safety for gas and energy operators. It delivers these capabilities through five specialized research programmes (H2 & CO2, IMPACT, NEW CH4, PREPARE, SENTINEL) and an innovation ecosystem comprising Nova by NaTran and the Open Innovation Factory.
Is RICE a public or private company?
RICE is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was RICE founded?
RICE was founded in 2018. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is RICE based?
RICE is headquartered in Villeneuve-la-garenne, France, in the Europe region.
Who are RICE's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are INERIS, ENGIE Research & Innovation, GRTgaz R&D (now part of NaTran ecosystem), GRDF (R&D division) and EDF R&D. Broad incumbents are DNV (Energy Systems research) and TotalEnergies R&D (OneTech). Regional players are Fluxys Belgium R&D and Open Grid Europe (OGE) Innovation. SINTEF Energy Research is listed as an emerging player.
Does RICE have an API?
No public API is recorded for RICE.
What industry is RICE in?
RICE's product category is Energy Infrastructure R&D Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAAAEAI, Biogas/RNG Plant Operations, Maintenance & Asset Management, with a secondary code of EUAEADAD, SCADA, Controls & Communications Integration (RTU, Fiber, Networking). Its NAICS code is 33313 and its SIC code is 4923.