This paper reviews research and development activities that are generally required to develop a catalytic process from a laboratory concept into an industrial scale plant, analyzes the nature of the development activities, their tasks and objectives. The course to be taken and the methodology to be adopted are discussed, and the role of process development tools such as mathematical models, reactor units of various sizes, and cold now engineering mock ups are reviewed. Some general guiding principles are mentioned to maximize the effectiveness of the development program in terms of time and costs.