Ilias Kotsianis

Short Bio: Ilias Kotsianis is a Principal Process Engineer at Bayer Technology Services (BTS) supporting the Americas region. In the past he held roles of increasing responsibility within Celanese (Global Vinyl Acetate R&D Group Leader) and INVISTA (TetraHydroFuran Unit Technical Superintendent). More specifically to CRE, he and his teams have developed new processes, patented new catalytic reaction setups (reactive distillation concepts) and improved existing and matured technologies. Ilias is known for his work in reactor scale ups (lab-piloting-tolling/commercial manufacturing), industrial catalyst activations, design, development and procurement of precious metal catalysts and studies at novel R&D reactor designs. Ilias has worked closely with both the Bayer Upstream Processes Development group in the BTS Leverkusen facility and the Ehrfeld Mikrotechnik BTS reactors. Ilias holds a Professional Doctorate in Engineering, Process & Product Design, from the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, the Netherlands (TU/e) and a Master of Science in ChE from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece (NTUA). He is a member of the AIChE since 2006 and of the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) as a Licensed/Professional Engineer since 2002. Specialties: Process Development, Design & Economics, Scale Ups & Commercial Start Ups, Basic Engineering Packages, Pilot Plant Designs - Operations - Management, Catalyst Activations (THF, VA, PTMEG), Six Sigma Black Belt trained (DMAIC) - Advanced DOEs, Technology Licensing, R&D Portfolio Management, Technical Due Diligence, Strategic Marketing, Innovation & New IP, PHAs, Risk Assessment-Risk Management, PSM, General Personnel Management: successfully managed a Research Group of 14 Professionals & Techs.