Rethinking the Future of Alumina: Sovereighty and Sustainability
IB2 partners with leading alumina producers to deploy its proprietary technology through long-term agreements.
The model combines lower capital intensity with substantial operating cost savings, while improving ESG performance across the value chain. Our strategy is to scale globally with tier-one partners, creating durable, mutually beneficial collaborations that extend over decades.
Our mission
We provide the only industrial-scale technology capable of transforming low-grade bauxite into high-quality feedstock. By addressing the structural constraints of alumina production, we establish a pathway to ensure resource sovereignty, reduce production costs, and substantially mitigate environmental impact.
Our History
More than ten years of continuous effort, scientific passion, and unwavering commitment were required to develop IB2. Today, the technology stands as one of the most significant innovations of the modern alumina industry, offering a sustainable path forward in a world facing declining high-grade bauxite resources.
The individuals who carried this project from its very beginning — Yves Occello, Aimé Cuneo-Raffaelli, Bernard Bosca and Robert Bitsch et Odysseas Keramidas — are the inventors of the IB2 technology and the pioneers of this industrial revolution.
We extend our deepest thanks and pay tribute to their exceptional work. The revolutionary process they developed will permanently transform the alumina industry and support more sustainable aluminum production for decades to come.
2014 – 2018
Start of R&D
- Company establishment.
- Launch announcement of IB2 technology on global stage.
- Confirmation of lab results across samples from multiple origins.
2019 – 2021
Technical development
- Proof Of Concept.
- First Joint Development Agreement signed.
- IP development.
- Jeune Entreprise Innovante status (BPI).
2022 – 2024
Scouting and Piloting
- Successful pilot in China.
- Commercial and financial traction.
- Confirmation of strong interest of future clients.
2025 – Present
Industrial scale-up
- First unit constructed in China.
- Tobermorite: advanced R&D work, patent on most relevant application.
- Development of Tobermorite.
- Several prospects onboarded.
Our Values
More than 400 Years of Combined Expertise
Our team has more than 400 years of combined international experience in key positions within some of the most renowned companies in the sector.
Board members
Yves OCCELLO
Co-Founder
Board member
Yves has held a number of senior positions in companies in the bauxite-alumina sector (Péchiney – Alcan – Rio Tinto). Yves has world-renowned expertise and knowledge of refinery issues.
Engineer – ENS Chimie de Paris
Julien FIRMENICH
Chairman
Julien has held various positions of responsibility within the Firmenich group, including: management of the chemical, natural and biotechnology ingredients portfolio and commercial management of the R&D division’s ingredients pipeline.
Master HEC Lausanne
MBA INSEAD
Romain GIRBAL
CEO, Board member
Romain is a seasoned entrepreneur. In 2013, he co-founded Alliance Minière Responsable, a French bauxite mining company in the Republic of Guinea
HEC Business Law and Management
Harvard Business School – OPM Program
Chloé MATTE
Board member
Engineer specialising in AI and supply chain, with experience in consulting (Accenture) and industry (Saint-Gobain, Daher), Chloé has been IB2’s scientific advisor since 2014.
Polytechnique engineer (FR)
Master of Science, Berkeley (USA)
Robin SCHEINER
Board member
Robin joined Glencore in 2009, where he has held a number of positions, culminating in his appointment as Co-Head of the Aluminium Division in 2016 and then Head of the Aluminium – Alumina – Bauxite Division in 2018.
EHL, Lausanne – Suisse
Martin KRUPP
Board member
20 years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience. Martin Krupp is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor. He started his career working internationally in finance for Nestlé and later in strategic consulting. Since 2011 Martin is an entrepreneur with activities in real estate, service industry and industrial including investments in scale-ups.
Master in Law and business, University of St.Gallen (Switzerland)
Harvard Business School – OPM Program
Team members
Luc VUILLEN
Chief Financial Officer
Luc has held various positions in the finance sector at leading financial institutions (Société Générale – Lehman Brothers – Tikehau Capital) Luc joined IB2 in 2021 as Finance and Administration Director
ESSEC, holder of AMF certification
Xavier PERRIER
Project Director, Technical Expert
Technical and Management experience including 15 years in the bauxite and alumina industry in technical and management positions (Pechiney, Alcan, Rio Tinto)
Ecole des Mines (Nancy) engineer
IFP School (process, engineering & refinery) engineer
MBA -INSEAD
Nicolas MUGNIER
Technical Director
29 years’ experience in alumina refineries and R&D centres (France, Australia), particularly in Process and Operations (Alteo Gardanne, Rio Tinto Alcan, GOVE, QAL, Pechiney)
ESPCI Paris – Engineering (Physics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering)
Raphaël Schwing
Finance Manager
Raphaël started his career in airline industry in the finance department at Amadeus.
He joined Ernst & Young in the audit department.
He then joined Ernst & Young Canada where he managed consulting teams for listed companies.
Raphaël holds a Master’s degree in Corporate Finance from SKEMA Business School.
Han Qiang
Site Director
Willie Li
CEO China
Working at IB2
