SusChem Greece kick-off ends 2016 on a high

SusChem Greece, the Greek National Technology Platform (NTP) for Sustainable Chemistry, whose Secretariat is operated by IPSEN, scored its first success on Friday 16 December with a successful inaugural Kick-off event in central Athens.

SusChem Greece Founding Members, most of whom are industrial associations, sustainable chemistry professionals or consumers, were present en masse, together with individual company delegates.  Also represented were non-member associations, whose sectors are related to sustainable chemistry.

The enthusiastic crowd came to listen to Ms Anne-Chloe Devic, Innovation Manager at Cefic and representing the European Technology Platform SusChem (pictured below second from the right), Ms Cristina Gonzalez, chief of the Spanish NTP SusChem Espana (on the left below)and Ms Leda Ampatzi, a specialist in EU-funded projects. Also pictured below (on the right) is Prof. Antonis Kokossis from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA).

The Greek industry had its voice heard in a round table discussion, moderated by experienced journalist John Rizopoulos.  The event was addressed by supportive politicians, including Messrs Tsironis, Alternate Minister for Rural Development and Food, Mr. Zafeiris, General Secretary for Industry, Mr. Kostopoulos, Secretary of the opposition party New Democracy for Scientific Organisations and Ms Kafantari, Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Production and Trade.

You can find further details and more photos from the kick-off event here.

SusChem Greece aspires to leverage EU research and development funds and alliances in aid of Greek-originated sustainable chemistry priorities. More information on the event and the SusChem Greece can be found here: www.suschem-gr.org.

2016 SusChem End of Year Message

Dear colleagues and members of the SusChem community,

The year 2016 represented a significant milestone for SusChem. Together we defined five main priority areas for our research and innovation activities in sustainable chemistry -  Sustainable bio-economy, ICT for processes, Water, Catalysis and Processes, and Materials for Energy  -  and developed a comprehensive plan for following up other important topics.

During the year a number of SusChem inspired projects delivered significant results, most notably the E4Water project, that demonstrated the very tangible impact of our research and innovation agenda. 2016 also saw SusChem act to facilitate enhanced collaboration and cooperation between the two SusChem inspired Public Private Partnerships: the BBI Joint Undertaking and SPIRE.

We successfully held our annual Stakeholder event in June, as usual in Brussels, and a very successful Brokerage event in Seville in September during the 6th European Chemical Congress. New Working Groups were created and substantial and significant input, based on the needs of our sector, was gathered, delivered to the European Commission and well received by them. Moreover, our network of National Technology Platforms expanded to include a record number of fourteen Member States.

Towards the end of the year we launched our new SusChem identity at a reception in the European Parliament. This rebranding campaign will continue into 2017 including a revision of the SusChem website.

But above all, the greatest success factor for SusChem in 2016 was YOU! Your commitment, trust and involvement strengthened SusChem and motivated the platform in its mission to represent the significant sustainable chemistry research and innovation efforts of the Chemical Industry within the chemical science community, to the European Institutions, and beyond.

On behalf of the SusChem Board and the SusChem secretariat, I would like to thank you for your continuing engagement and we wish you all very happy and relaxing holidays and a healthy, happy and “sustainable” New Year. 2017 will be another important year for SusChem and we look forward to working with you on new SusChem inspired initiatives over the next 12 months.

Best wishes,

Dr Klaus H. Sommer
Chairman of the SusChem Board

SusChem Greece Kicks Off

SusChem Greece, the Greek National Technological Platform (NTP) for Sustainable Chemistry, will hold its kick-off event in Athens on 16 December 2016. The event, which will be held at NJV Athens Plaza Hotel will introduce this brand new initiative that aspires to steer Greek sustainable chemistry stakeholders towards a collective journey to innovation for the benefit of industry and society.

SusChem Greece looks to tap into the valuable and pragmatic insights, experience and knowledge of the Greek sustainable chemical community and explore the strategic expectations for a prosperous Greek industry endowed with prowess and social responsibility through sustainable chemistry.

Prior to the kick-off event a board meeting of SusChem Greece will be held. The launch event itself will start at 15:00 with presentations from SusChem Greece representatives Dr. Stelios Bikos and Prof. Antonis Kokossis both from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Anne-Chloe Devic, CEFIC Innovation Manager for Materials and SusChem NTPs, and Cristina Gonzalez Alonso of SusChem Spain.

This will be followed by a round table discussion on Sustainable Chemistry in Greece with representatives from SusChem Industrial Associations and a session on Funded Innovation in Sustainable Chemistry with speakers including Leda Ampatzi, an EU Co-Funding Specialist and representatives of the European Investment Bank and Pireaus Bank.

If you wish to attend the event please notify the SusChem Greece secretariat, Dr Stelios Bikos, by 14 December at the latest. More information on the event and the SusChem Greece can be found here: www.suschem-gr.org.