ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the case that tells the story of an acrylic fiber plant built in 1973 in Portugal by the Mitsubishi Rayon Company and by CUF, the most important inorganic chemical group in Portugal. This case briefly describes the history of the company Solancis from 1969 to the present. The first part of the case succinctly describes the production line, the technologies applied and the demanding sustainability measures carried out in the factory and in the quarries it explores. The second part of the case focuses on the company’s innovative dynamics, presenting different research-and-development projects and innovative European Union projects in which Solancis participates in or leads and which involve a network of companies, associations and research centers. The case describes its internal innovation process, from the decision of engagement to the public presentation of its results, and its relationship with the footwear sector and with the technological company CEI.
