Veolia Water is number 1 in the world for publishing research works on water and has a portfolio of more than 600 patents.

For 20 years Veolia Water has been developing a network of research centers working on advances in the areas of health and the environment.

• In 1982 the research centre, initially based at the company's headquarters, moved to Maisons-Laffitte, just outside Paris. It then became known as 'Anjou Recherche'.

• In 2001 following the acquisition by Veolia Water of a stake in the water supply company for Berlin, the Berlin Centre of Excellence for Water ("KompetenzZentrum Wasser Berlin") was set up.
  This international centre, devoted to water research and the exchange of expertise, co-ordinates resources from Berlin's universities and research institutes, as well as those from the Group Berlinwasser and Veolia Water. This combined approach allows its affiliates and partners to work on projects in partnership with the best international technology centers.

• In 2003 the Environmental Analysis Centre,'Centre d'Analyses Environnementales' (CAE), was set up at Saint Maurice, just outside Paris. It co-ordinates all of Veolia Environnement's resources and expertise dedicated to environmental analysis and is the main analysis laboratory of Veolia Water.

Currently 350 researchers are meeting these challenges by providing innovative and cost-effective solutions.