About Dr. Tannous
A Life Built on
Curiosity, Integrity & Hard Work
Based in
Arlington Heights, IL
Greater Chicago Area
At a Glance
Education
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering — Cairo University
Career
37+ years at UOP / Honeywell UOP
Patents
3 USPTO Patents Granted
Expertise
R&D Management, Open Innovation, Six Sigma, Business Development
Community
EAS Board of Directors (founding member)
The Journey from Cairo to the Patent Office
Dr. Medhat Khalil Tannous was born and raised in Egypt, where he earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Cairo University — one of Africa's most prestigious research institutions. Armed with deep technical knowledge and an immigrant's determination, he made the journey to the United States to build a career defined by innovation and intellectual rigor.
He joined UOP — the world-renowned chemical engineering and technology company — and spent over three decades rising through its ranks. By the time Honeywell acquired UOP, Dr. Tannous had become a Senior Director of R&D, overseeing Middle East collaborations and driving open innovation partnerships across international boundaries.
"I came to this country with a degree and a dream. What I built was earned through decades of honest work, genuine curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to doing things right."
A Patent Holder's Perspective
Among Dr. Tannous's most significant achievements are three granted US patents in molecular sieve technology — a field critical to the petrochemical and refining industries. His patents on the synthesis and treatment of molecular sieve agglomerates (US 5,026,531; US 5,045,295; US 6,656,447) represent genuine scientific contributions that continue to influence industrial processes worldwide.
This experience as an inventor gives Dr. Tannous a unique perspective that most consultants lack: he understands not just the business of R&D, but the science behind it. He can speak with equal authority to a lab bench researcher and a boardroom executive.
Family, Faith & Community
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Tannous is deeply grounded in family. As a devoted husband and father, he brings the same care and long-term thinking to his client relationships that he applies to his personal life. He understands that the decisions organizations make have real human consequences — and he takes that responsibility seriously.
Dr. Tannous has also been a committed civic leader in the Egyptian-American community. As a founding board member of the Egyptian American Society (EAS) of Chicago, he helped draft the landmark Chicago Declaration of 2005 — a document promoting human rights, national unity, and inter-religious understanding in Egypt that was formally presented to the Egyptian government and the United Nations.
His international work extended to the Gulf region, where he was a featured participant at the GPCA (Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association) Research & Innovation Summit — representing Honeywell UOP alongside the world's leading chemical engineering minds.
What Drives Me
Core Values
Integrity Above All
Every engagement is guided by honesty and transparency. Dr. Tannous will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.
Evidence-Based Counsel
Recommendations grounded in 37+ years of hands-on R&D experience, not theory. Every insight is earned through real-world application.
Global Perspective
From Cairo to Chicago, from the Gulf to the Americas — a truly international lens on innovation and business development.
Personal Investment
As a husband and father, Dr. Tannous understands that business decisions have human consequences. He brings that care to every client.