XiMo has started the construction of a plant for metathesis catalysts at an industrial scale in Gödöllő, Hungary. Backed by an investment of EUR 27.7 million from its German parent company Verbio SE and subsidies amounting to EUR 5.5 million from the Hungarian government, the new plant marks a major step forward for innovative, sustainable chemistry. The facility is expected to create 44 new high-tech jobs.
Starting in the summer of 2026, the site will manufacture catalysts that enable environmentally friendly chemical processes. The production technology is based on the pioneering work of Nobel Laureate Professor Dr. Richard Schrock, one of XiMo`s co-founders.
Budapest, June 26, 2025 – Pioneering Olefin Metathesis Technology Finds a New Home in Hungary: XiMo, a global leader in olefin metathesis and a specialist in cutting-edge catalyst development, marked a major milestone today with the groundbreaking of its new production facility in the Gödöllő Innovation and Logistic Park (Gödöllői Innovációs és Logisztikai Park), just 30 kilometers northeast of Budapest. Backed by a multi-million-Euro investment, the new plant will focus on the large-scale production of XiMo’s innovative metathesis catalysts—technology rooted in Nobel Prize-winning science and central to the company’s core expertise.
XiMo’s parent company, Verbio SE, is investing EUR 27.7 million in the project. The investment is supported by a 20 percent subsidy from the Hungarian government amounting to EUR 5.5 million. The plant will bring Nobel Prize-winning technology to an industrial scale, marking a major step toward greener, more sustainable chemical production.
Production launch planned for summer 2026
The new facility will enable the large-scale production of advanced catalysts that drive olefin metathesis—a transformative chemical reaction at the heart of greener, more sustainable chemistry. This cutting-edge technology empowers the chemical industry to replace fossil-based feedstocks with renewable, plant-derived alternatives such as rapeseed methyl ester. By enabling the efficient conversion of bio-based raw materials into high-value products—including pheromones for sustainable crop protection, plant-based flavors and fragrances, lubricants, surfactants, and polymers—olefin metathesis plays a vital role in reducing environmental impact and advancing the transition to a circular, low-carbon economy.
“The new plant will enable us to produce molybdenum-, tungsten- and ruthenium-based catalysts on an industrial scale,” says Dr. Levente Ondi, Director of XiMo Hungary Kft. “We expect to begin regular production in summer 2026.”
Appreciation and support by the Hungarian government
The groundbreaking ceremony at the Gödöllői Üzleti Industrial Park located – 30 kilometers northeast of Budapest – brought together government officials, company representatives, and business partners to mark the start of construction.
Among the distinguished guests were the State Secretary at the Ministery of Foreign Affairs and Trade Mr. Levente Magyar and Mayor of Gödöllő, Dr. György Gémesi. The Hungarian government emphasized the economic and environmental impact of the new XiMo facility during the groundbreaking ceremony.
Verbio SE, the German-based parent company of XiMo, is investing a total of EUR 27.7 million in the construction of the new catalyst production facility. The Hungarian government is supporting the project with a 20 percent subsidy, contributing EUR 5.5 million (HUF 2.2 billion) in public funding.
Theodor Niesmann, CTO at Verbio SE, expressed appreciation for the partnership: "On behalf of Verbio, I would like to sincerely thank State Secretary Magyar and the Hungarian government for their ongoing support and trust in our company. Your commitment is deeply valued.”
Pioneering green solutions for sustainable chemistry
A significant share of the catalysts produced at the Gödöllői plant will be used by Verbio in its new plant for bio-based chemicals in Bitterfeld, Germany. There, the company is currently building the
world’s first Ethenolysis plant to manufacture renewable molecules from rapeseed methyl ester –marking another key milestone in Verbio’s commitment to sustainable innovation.
The chemical industry, with its energy-intensive processes and reliance on fossil resources, faces growing pressure to meet ambitious climate targets. Verbio’s renewable chemicals based on XiMo’s innovative catalysts are helping to redefine what is possible.
“With this new plant, XiMo enables more innovative technologies converting renewable biomass into high-quality compounds, used in products such as surfactants, lubricants and polymer, without full reliance on fossil resources”, explains XiMo’s Director Dr. Levente Ondi.
Nobel Prize-winning technology in practice
Amongst the valuable guests was Prof. Dr. Richard Schrock, one of XiMo's original founders. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2005 for his groundbreaking work in the field of metathesis – a key reaction in organic chemistry. His decades of research, together with his colleagues, laid the foundation for the development of molybdenum- and tungsten-based olefin metathesis catalysts.
Since XiMo’s acquisition by Verbio SE in 2018, the team led by XiMo’s current Director Dr. Levente Ondi has successfully advanced this technology for industrial application. With the construction of the new production plant in Gödöllő, these scientific discoveries are now being translated into industrial practice. This marks a significant milestone, opening new possibilities not only for the chemical industry, but also for Verbio’s continued diversification and internationalization efforts.
Picture 1: XiMo is constructing a new plant for the production of innovative metathesis catalysts in Gödöllői Üzleti Industrial Park
Picture 2: Government officials, company representatives, and business partners gathered at the groundbreaking ceremony. Amongst them Hungary’s State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Levente Magyar and Mayor of Gödöllő, Dr. György Gémesi.
About XiMo Hungary Kft.
XiMo Hungary Kft. is an expert company on olefin metathesis catalysts. XiMo specializes in the development of industrially applicable metathesis catalysts and processes. A broad, IP-protected portfolio of complex, stereoselective Mo, W, and Ru metathesis catalyst systems is offered to the market by XiMo, from gram to commercial-scale quantities. XiMo holds exclusive rights to the entire patent portfolio covering the Schrock/Hoveyda molybdenum and tungsten-based metathesis technologies. Together with our customers, XiMo disseminates this proprietary technology. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Verbio SE (Germany), XiMo focuses on metathesis catalysts and their application on renewable feedstock, chemicals, and polymers for markets like flavors and fragrances, agriculture, polymers, pharmaceutical, and bio-based specialty chemicals.
Contact for media
Dr. Levente Ondi
Managing Director XiMo Kft.
info@ximo-inc.com
