The BioBase4SME network
represents a group of leading biobased economy experts and advises SMEs from
across North-West Europe on how to develop new ideas into marketable products.
The BioBase4SME project can help Start-ups and SMEs to overcome technological
and non-technological barriers to bring their bioeconomy innovations to market.
The bioeconomy represents a
massive opportunity for Europe. Locally produced biobased feedstocks rather
than imported fossil resources can be used to produce materials, chemicals,
energy and more, creating a new knowledge and technology intensive economy with
high employment potential and with reduced environmental impact.
The BioBase4SME project expects
to bring at least 20 promising innovations closer to the market, resulting in
new investments and job creation, and provide training to about 200
entrepreneurs active in the biobased economy, thus boosting their innovation
capacity. Other principle outputs are a strong, interregional network to guide
entrepreneurs towards successful innovation, improved regional support for the
bioeconomy in terms of innovation and investment climate, legal framework and
public approval.”
Bio-Innovation
The BioBase4SME project can
provide ‘bio-innovation’ support to entrepreneurs throughout regions in
north-west Europe. This support can include:
Free workshops and professional
training
Innovation Biocamps
Innovation vouchers worth up to
EUR 100 000.
The support available through the
Innovation voucher system can include:
Technical assistance such as
support for scale-up to pilot scale
The programme has the ambition to
make the North-West Europe area a key economic player and an attractive place
to work and live, with high levels of innovation, sustainability and cohesion.
It invests EUR 370 million of ERDF money in activities based on the cooperation
of organisations from eight countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland,
Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Dear colleagues and members of the SusChem community,
The past year showed us once again the enormous challenges and changes that our world and our industry have to cope with, whilst striving to achieve sustainable development. An extended summer across Europe reminded me and many of us that CO2 emissions are still on the rise; and the issue of plastics waste became more urgent on the political agenda.
Identifying solutions to global challenges like these is achieved via science and technology – and through collaboration. This is exactly the purpose of SusChem, and I think in 2018 we made further progress in sharing a ‘European voice’ on research and innovation priorities in Sustainable Chemistry and Industrial Biotech.
One highlight was our response to Horizon Europe, the ambitious research and innovation programme that the European Commission is forging to succeed Horizon 2020. At our annual stakeholders event in June, the potential of the contribution of SusChem and Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) under Horizon Europe was highlighted. And we initiated our consultation to build a new SusChem Strategic Innovation and Research Agenda (SIRA). I am sure the new SIRA will be a solid base for advising the European Commission on future technology priorities for Horizon Europe. Delivery of a final draft is planned in the course of 2019 – a major task for next year.
Looking back on 2018, I also well remember our brokerage event in October which was supported by keynote speakers from the Commission and also the disruptive innovation community. The event brought together some 200 European innovators to form strong consortia under open Horizon 2020 calls – a really impressive number! Also the number of national technology platforms (NTPs) rose in 2018 with the accession of Bulgaria, Finland and Sweden, so that our community now comprises 17 NTPs across Europe.
So 2018 was really impactful. Our key focus for 2019 will be to build on SusChem’s role as a multi-stakeholder advisory forum engaging with both academia and industry. Together we can provide a vision and direction on innovation and technology priorities in Sustainable Chemistry and industrial biotechnology to ensure the success of Horizon Europe. We therefore invite you to join us in formulating together the new SusChem SIRA!
On behalf of the SusChem Board and the SusChem secretariat, I would like to thank you all very much for your continuing commitment to our platform and activities. I wish you a relaxing Christmas break and a healthy, happy and “sustainable” New Year. We look forward to working with you on new SusChem inspired initiatives over the next 12 months!
Best wishes,
Dr Markus Steilemann
Chairman of the SusChem Board
The paper 'Impact: Key Enabling Technologies in Horizon Europe' calls for strong support for EU future technology competitiveness and argues that sustainable chemistry is essential for the technological advance of many KETs from advanced materials to photonics and industrial biotechnology.
SusChem believes that that Horizon Europe should firmly embrace KETs as drivers of technology development for jobs and growth and the white paper focuses on their potential positive impact on society.
KETs of specific interest to SusChem, such as advanced materials, advanced process technologies and industrial biotechnology, are essential to address societal challenges and accelerate the development of a low-carbon economy, circular economy and enable the energy transition.
SusChem also recognises the need to integrate digital technologies into process technologies, materials development and new business models. SusChem believes that synergies between current KETs and new digital KETs can accelerate the creation of new markets, growth and jobs.
Create, develop, leverage
The SusChem White Paper details the major technology developments and initiatives needed to:
Create Advanced Materials for use in energy efficiency (e.g., light weight), renewable electricity production and energy storage (e.g., batteries elements), or smart functionalities responding to stimuli (e.g., self-repair).
Develop Advanced Process Technologies, including Industrial Biotechnology, for more sustainable production including through utilisation of alternative carbon feedstock (waste, biomass, CO2) and alternative energy sources.
Leverage Digital Technologies for use in advanced process control and materials modelling, to enable disruptive business models and to create new customer experiences.
Examples
All three areas give examples of how the KETs can make a difference to achieving societal policy goals and are illustrated by case study examples from completed SusChem projects.
The SuperBIO Horizon 2020 project is getting close to reaching its goal of developing 30 cross-border, cross-sectorial value chains in the biobased economy. The initiative has a target to develop 30 new disruptive biobased value chains together with EU SMEs through provision of 10 different accessible professional innovation services to SMEs at affordable prices.
Established in 2016, SuperBIO has been such a success that, only twelve months into the project, 20 value chains have already been developed. The project expects to reach its goal before the end of the year! New applicants should therefore hurry up to become one of the 10 new value chains that remain to be developed and supported by SuperBIO.
The newly established value chains in SuperBIO are very diverse and include biogas production, food, horticultural and agricultural waste valorisation, bioplastics production, and production of high-value compounds such as crop-protection products, fragrances or food additives.
SuperBIO is a truly Europe-wide project, attracting SMEs from Belgium, Finland, France, Israel, Italy, Portugal, the UK, Spain, The Netherlands, Norway and Turkey.
Innovation services
SMEs participating in the value chains can each receive innovation services to a value of €60 000, with 75% of the support funded through the project. The 20 developed value chains are now gaining more insight into feedstock and market information, life-cycle analysis (LCA), techno-economics, regulatory barriers, business planning and access to investors, subsidy strategy, intellectual property (IP) protection, and proof-of-concept or scale-up issues. With its innovation support services, SuperBIO fills a tangible need for EU bioeconomy SMEs and gives them a head start to get closer to their markets.
SuperBIO can only support a limited number of SMEs, but the project still welcomes applications for new value chains from industrial stakeholders. Hurry up and take advantage of this exclusive opportunity to get a boost for your biobased business.
#suschem2017 brought together senior players from the
chemical and biotechnology industries, academia, research technology
organisations (RTOs) and EU institutions to address common challenges and
debate priorities crucial to the sustainability of the European chemical and
biotechnology innovation sectors.
Sustainable,
circular, responsible
In an opening plenary presentation Peter Dröll,
Director for Industrial Technologies at the European Commission DG Research and
Innovation (below) stated that “Our common
future must be sustainable, circular and responsible” - concepts that SusChem and
its activities are very much aligned with.
Dröll described some
current thinking on aspects of FP9 including the concept of ‘missions’ and
called on all attendees to make the collective case for investing more in EU research
and innovation in the future - a theme that was repeated by many speakers
during the day. In particular, the key to ensuring future funding was
demonstrating the societal impact of current funding initiatives for research
and innovation.
In his plenary address SusChem Chairman Dr Klaus Sommer stressed the need for a continuing role for
industrial leadership in FP9 projects and the need for adequate funding to
bridge the innovation ‘valley of death’ and ensure commercialisation. He noted
SusChem’s key messages in its contribution to the Horizon 2020 consultation: in
particular the value of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), such as SPIRE and
the BBI JU, as instruments to promote competitiveness.
SusChem – a success story
SusChem is a clear
success. Sommer stated that “85% of the input on topics found in SusChem’s Strategic Innovation and Research Agenda (SIRA) was now reflected in Horizon
2020 programmes”. This was a significant impact of which all SusChem
stakeholders should be proud!
He also highlighted
the swift success of the SPIRE PPP, a SusChem inspired initiative, in raising
some €750 million of private funding for its projects. He said that “SPIRE is
on its way and is already mission driven with a set of clear key performance
indicators (KPIs) for Europe.”
Underlying this success is the plain fact that SusChem – and
sustainable chemistry in general – is providing the solutions for the
challenges that society faces across areas from climate change and energy
transition to high performance materials to enable a circular economy and
digitisation of the chemical and other process industries.
Breakout sessions
Participants split into three parallel breakout sessions all
focused on various aspects of the future FP9 programme. The sessions consisted
of short presentations on the topic area and then an interactive session with
moderated small groups discussing the topic and providing insights and
solutions. The results of the session were shared in an afternoon plenary
session.
Breakout Session 1 looked to define success factors
for EU funded projects to optimise innovation impact and value for Europe. BreakoutSession 2 examined the role of SMEs as a driver of the EU innovation
ecosystems and how we can stimulate market-creating innovation through SME
funding. Breakout Session 3 looked at shaping funding
instruments to accelerate innovation and competitiveness in Europe.
Panel discussion
In the afternoon SusChem stakeholders received updates from
the SusChem NTP network and feedback from three morning workshop sessions on
FP9. These had focused on aspects of boosting innovation impact, the role of
SMEs and appropriate framework instruments.
The culmination of the FP9 debate was a high-level panel
discussion that examined how to accelerate innovation and deliver impact in the
forthcoming framework programme. The discussion was moderated by Cefic
Executive Director for Research and Innovation Pierre Barthelemy with
contributions from the European Commission and key SusChem stakeholders
including large industry, small companies, research and technology
organisations and PPPs.
Kurt Vandenberghe, Director for Policy Development and
Coordination at the European Commission’s DG Research and Innovation, opened
the discussion by describing the important role that SusChem and other European
technology platforms can play in shaping FP9. He said that there are
calls not to change anything from Horizon 2020 but there is a need to balance
change and continuity to maximise impact. For industry Ulrich Küsthardt,
SusChem Board Member and CIO at Evonik, insisted that continued public funding
for larger companies should continue. The executive director of SPIRE Àngels
Orduña explained the added value of PPPs, such as SPIRE, saying that the
public-private partnership is able to gather together complete innovation
ecosystems, connecting existing systems and networks, increasing the
participation of industry both large and small. From the research perspective,
Professor Michael Matlosz from the French National Research Agency (ANR) stated
that FP9 must maintain the research competitive edge that previous programmes
had delivered and that the EU should continue to base its strategies on its
strengths. Muriel Attané of EARTO felt that more pilot and demonstration
projects would be needed and we should be building a technology infrastructure
that would be appropriate for decades to come. Iryna Sukhotska from
Spanish SME Biopolis stressed that all sizes of companies are important in the
innovation ecosystem and partnerships with large chemical industry are crucial
for small companies.
The debate highlighted also the need to preserve the right
balance between research and innovation in FP9, as well as the industrial eco
system of funding for small and large companies. In particular a clear narrative
demonstrating the impact of sustainable chemistry innovation to help citizens
and politicians to understand its value to society must be developed – and
fast!
FP9 – our mission
From the
#suschem2017 discussions it is clear that SusChem needs to think about the
concept of missions in FP9: what do we want missions to be and how can we
develop our vision for mission targets. We also need to support the success of
PPPs in Horizon 2020, such as SPIRE and BBI, and their ability to operate along
the whole innovation value chain – an essential element to deliver impact.
FP9 needs to be more
inclusive for new member states, but also ensure that successful innovation is
the paramount objective to achieve sustainable jobs and growth in Europe. More
simplification of procedures in FP9 was desirable, but we need to conserve what
was good in Horizon 2020.
Better alignment
between EU programmes and national level initiatives is also needed, and
funding for industry large and small should be continued to ensure a healthy industrial
innovation ecosystem that can deliver new goods and services to the market.
SusChem’s new brand
Earlier in the day the
new SusChem branding was presented by the SusChem Communication team who
invited delegates to “step into your sustainable future!”. The new branding
underlines the message that “We are all SusChem” and that together all
stakeholders should stand as strong ambassadors for the SusChem brand.
During the day
stakeholders got an in-depth brand experience with visual, taste, auditory,
smell and touch elements. In addition other brand experiences included an
on-site animator and a wish tree (see below), where stakeholders were encouraged to write
down their one main wish for FP9 with one lucky delegate’s wish winning an
iWatch in a draw at the end of the day.
Thank you Klaus!
At the end of the
day SusChem board Chairman Klaus Sommer (below) received a standing ovation from the
delegates after announcing that, due to new responsibilities, he would be
standing down from the SusChem board later in the year. Dr Sommer has been a
significant figure in SusChem since its formation and he said that it had been
wonderful to work with so many committed people and was proud that SusChem had
achieved so much. We will miss you Klaus!
SusChem founding partner EuropaBio is inviting small and medium sized biotech companies (SMEs) across Europe to apply for the 8th edition of its Most Innovative European Biotech SME Award: a unique annual initiative recognising biotech innovation and its contribution to society. SMEs interested in entering the competition are invited to apply by 26 June 2017 via the awards dedicated website.
Three categories are available for entry: healthcare, agricultural or industrial biotechnology. Applications must be submitted online at biotechSMEawards.eu by close of business on 26 June and two companies will be shortlisted in each category by a jury of biotech experts.
The winners will be celebrated during a landmark event for SMEs to held in early October. Each winner will also receive a €10 000 prize and two years free membership of EuropaBio.
In order to be considered for the EuropaBio SME awards a company must qualify as an SME under the standard EU SME definition: the company's primary location of operations must be within Europe, it must employ 250 or less staff, and its annual turnover must be €50 million or less.
Why SMEs?
According to the European Commission, “small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of Europe's economy. They represent 90% of all businesses in the EU. In the past five years, they have created around 85% of new jobs and provided two-thirds of the total private sector employment in the EU.”
In other words, SMEs matter and their leaders in innovation should be recognised and rewarded.
Biotech exemplifies the way in which science and scientific breakthroughs can be applied to respond to society’s current challenges. From new therapies that can address unmet medical needs and fight epidemics and rare diseases, to industrial processes that use renewable feedstocks instead of crude oil, to drought-resistant crops that allow farmers around the world to feed more people under unpredictable climatic conditions, biotechnology pays significant economic, social and environmental dividends.
The awards have become one of the main initiatives in the European biotech calendar, with almost 200 SMEs competing over the years. The success stories from previous winners can be read online at biotechSMEawards.eu.
The jury
The expert jury are all involved in biotech and understand the science, the funding realities and the regulatory and political frameworks in which European biotech SMEs operate. They appreciate the potential of innovation and SMEs for Europe’s future, and they will carefully analyse each application to select the nominees. The jury includes:
Frank Bulens, member of the Management Committee and Board of Directors of Capricorn Venture Partners. He is active in diagnostics, therapeutics and medical devices as well as digital health-tech for the various Capricorn funds that are investing in these areas.
John Brennan, the new Secretary General of EuropaBio, who takes up his post from 19 June 2017, with over 25 years’ experience both on the regulatory and the industrial sides of the healthcare industry.
Further jury members will be announced before the summer.
SusChem is proud to announce that its 2017 Stakeholder event will take place on Thursday, 8 June in Brussels.
Mark the date in your diary now! As usual attendance at the event will be free of charge for all SusChem stakeholder, but registration will be required.
One of SusChem’s first three visionary project concepts outlined in its initial Vision document in 2004 was the development of a fully integrated biorefinery. Now the BIOSKOH flagship research project, funded under the BioBased Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) in Horizon 2020, will demonstrate a first of its kind commercial-scale second generation biorefinery in Europe. This sustainable, circular bioeconomy project will transform a brownfield industrial site in eastern Slovakia into a 55 kton cellulosic ethanol production facility.
To establish an advanced European bioeconomy and transit towards a sustainable future, Europe needs to boost the sustainable conversion of renewable biomass into biobased products, chemicals and energy. Currently, there are no true full-scale producers of second generation (2G) bioethanol in Europe. BIOSKOH aims to change this through research and innovation and specifically to pave the way for the largest 2G biorefinery in Europe with a 110 kton capacity.
Development Phases
The project has two development phases. Initially it will develop a flagship 55 kton 2G biorefinery to produce cellulosic ethanol for EU biofuel mandates. This should pave the way for second stage investment to scale up to a 110 kton facility that will be the largest in Europe.
BIOSKOH, full project title ‘Innovation Stepping Stones for a Novel European Second Generation Bioeconomy', launched in October 2016 and includes eleven partners from seven EU member states in its consortium. The project members represent the full bioeconomy value chain including land owners, feedstock producers, supply chain experts, agronomical researchers, leading biotechnology companies, innovative technology providers, and plant constructors and operators.
BIOSKOH’s core project aims are to:
Establish a first of a kind biorefinery flagship for Europe in terms of size and innovation potential
Demonstrate a full regional biobased value chain, helping farmers to diversify business and create new opportunities including the exploitation of currently under-used resources by introducing farmers to innovative ways to use biomass
Improve regional infrastructure including substantial storage and shipment facilities for agricultural products
Support cross-industry collaboration between the agro-industry, bio-based, chemical and energy industries
Validate and optimise several design and process solutions to upscale and integrate them into the bioeconomy value chain
Create up to 160 direct and 500 indirect jobs across the value chain, from feedstock production and processing, supply chain logistics, up to bioethanol production and side-stream valorisation
Share a summary of the project’s sustainable business model, including how it used Innovation Stepping Stones to build techno-economic viability
By enabling full-scale production of 2G bio-ethanol in Europe, BIOSKOH will help to boost the bioeconomy and create an inspiring example for the global biobased market.
The project boasts four Innovation Stepping Stones: superior biorefinery technology; a brownfield approach, improving regional infrastructure; industrial symbiosis and energy autonomy; and abundant, secure and sustainable biomass.
The project will also explore the potential for emerging biobased materials including the use of lignin by-products from the BIOSKOH process and bio-ethylene. More information
For more information on the BIOSKOH project visit the project website or contact the project via email. You can also follow BIOSKOH on Twitter via @bioskoh.
SuperBIO is an innovation project supported through the Horizon 2020 funding programme. The € 3.8 million project supports the development of promising industrial value chains in the bioeconomy and engages with the EU biobased business community. The SuperBIO consortium includes four industrial cluster organisations (from Belgium, France, Spain and Poland), and six service providers (from the UK, Germany and Belgium).
The workshop kicks off at 15:30h with a description of the SuperBIO project from Dr. Gloria de la Viña from project partner Corporación Tecnológica de Andalucía (CTA). This is followed by a discussion on SuperBIO Support to SMEs with Dr. Holger Bengs of BCNP Consultants GmbH, Dr. Lieve Hoflack from Bio Base Europe pilot plant and Dr. Caitlin Burns of NNFCC.
Examples of the valorisation of agricultural and horticultural residues from a range of Horizon 2020 projects will then be presented.
Dr. Francisco Egea from Almería University will describe the biomass potential of intensive horticulture followed by discussion of Biotechnological valorisation of horticulture residues by Dr. Javier Velasco of NEOL S.A and the final presentation will be on a success story showcasing horticultural bioproducts that are already in the market. The workshop will close at ~17:50h
SuperBIO’s strategic vision is to build new industrial value chains by integrating and supporting groups of SMEs in collaboration with other innovation actors.
The project aims to:
create open collaboration spaces for SMEs, Larger Enterprises (LEs) and other stakeholders in the biobased economy
identify new industrial value chain concepts maximizing the benefits for EU business and citizens
construct highly promising, disruptive and sustainable new industrial value chains by selecting synergistic groups of SMEs, LEs and other stakeholders, and
provide a diverse, stepwise and comprehensive innovation support programme that enables the efficient and optimal validation of new value chains and brings them closer to the market.
The SuperBIO project main objective is to build at least 10 new biobased value chains around innovative and promising ideas from the business community. In addition, SuperBIO will offer innovation services to at least 30 third-party SMEs that are part of identified value chains.
To further innovate in the EU bioeconomy, new partnerships and connections need to be established between different sectors (for example between chemistry and agriculture, between producers and end-users). SuperBIO helps to build these connections by engaging with the wider biobased business community. It supports cross sectorial and cross border industrial value chain building and provides innovation support services to SMEs.
Industrial stakeholders are invited to submit their idea for an innovative value chain to the SuperBIO project. The consortium ensures that their information will be treated as confidential throughout the process. The combined expertise in the biobased economy and skills of the consortium enable them to identify promising ideas for new innovative value chains. SuperBIO then supports cross sectorial and cross border development of the value chain of the selected ideas.
Once a value chain is created SuperBIO analyses the gaps to be filled and further requirements to bring this value chain closer to the market. Based on this, SuperBIO offers selected innovation services to SMEs that are part of the value chain. Six services providers are included in the consortium offering a combined set of 10 different professional innovation services: scale-up and proof-of-concept, IP support, life cycle assessment, techno-economic evaluation, feedstock analysis, market research, sustainability advice, business planning, access to investors and grant writing. These services are funded by the project for 75%, the remaining 25% being covered by the SME receiving the service.
This project will lead to the implementation of new value chains, the production of drop-in biobased chemicals and products and/ or the production of new chemicals and products with improved features. It can lead to investments in dedicated industrial production sites for the new value chains, for example via ESIF funds, and therefore provide leverage for the re-industrialisation of the EU using innovative technologies.
In brief, SuperBIO offers a unique opportunity to bring innovative, sustainable, cross border and cross sectorial biobased value chains closer to the market.
For more information on the SuperBIO project and the scope of its innovation services visit the project website (under construction).
Industrial Technologies 2016 will be the largest networking conference in the field of new production technologies, materials, nanotechnology, biotechnology and digital technologies in Europe this year with more than 1 250 high level delegates expected. And with more than 100 influential speakers giving presentations, lectures and workshops, delegates will learn how to push the boundaries of new technologies to make businesses smarter and more successful.
SusChem sessions
Two sessions on the afternoon of 22 June under the 'Fostering smart and sustainable growth' strand will be of particular interest to SusChem stakeholders. The first session is ‘Innovation Inside: Circular Economy in the Chemical Industry’ and runs from 13:30 to 15:00.
How to produce more using fewer resources? How to save materials through new manufacturing approaches and how to minimise energy consumption during manufacturing. This requires new design approaches coupled with new, material saving production processes with improved material efficiency and enabling the (flexible) use of substitute materials.
The panel will discuss examples of recently completed projects and specifically discuss the learning and successes in terms of the transition to a circular economy by innovation, adoption and implementation of new technologies. The panel will also address energy, water and resource efficiencies achieved by a combination of innovation and effective use of data and digitalisation. As the final point the panel plans to address the importance of adopting integration of management systems and industrial symbiosis to achieve the next level of breakthrough.
Biotech
Immediately after the coffee break the sustainable chemistry theme will continue on 22 June with the session entitled ‘Industrial biotechnology for sustainable and efficient manufacturing’ from 15:30 to 16:30.
Major challenges in the biobased industries concern developing and valorising new feedstock resources, including wastes, residues, non-food biomass sources, and multiple feedstock sources, while improving the yield, productivity and robustness of bioconversions processes. In addition the industry must achieve constant high quality in biobased products, feedstock and bioconversion processes, improve efficiencies in scaling-up through predictive scale-up models, and develop integrated bioconversion processes.
The session chair will be SusChem board member: Joanna Dupont from EuropaBio with contributions from Mika Härkönen of VTT, Jelle Ernst Oude Lenferink from Fluor and Ana Palanca of AIMPLAS.
Creating a Smart Europe
The three day conference brings together personalities involved in research, industry, education, finance and policy activities from manufacturing and process industry and technology domains from all over Europe to identify priorities that are crucial to strengthen the European industrial innovation ecosystem and deliver ‘A Smart Europe’.
The Industrial Technologies 2016 conference offers a full three day programme including plenary sessions, parallel lectures and workshops, matchmaking for collaborative ventures, and visits to Dutch companies that are in the lead of Smart Industry developments plus much, much more.
EU FP7 project ‘KYROBIO' have produced an end of project webinar titled 'The Discovery, Development and Demonstration of Biocatalysis for use in the Industrial Synthesis of Chiral Chemicals'. The webinar gives a brief overview of the four year project whose main objective was to broaden the toolbox of single enantiomer chiral chemicals manufactured in Europe using biotechnological routes. Its specific focus was to enable the industrial application of the lyase class of enzymes which can selectively synthesise molecules with multiple chiral centres.
The KYROBIO project used an SME-focused approach to address industrially identified needs for chiral synthesis using biocatalysis with partners that have the potential to exploit the project results. The overarching challenge was that multiple chiral centres form a significant feature in several chosen industrially useful chemicals.
The control of reaction stereochemistry was targeted for added value in the KYROBIO technology. This leads to challenges in molecular biology, enzymology and process engineering to name but a few. All these areas are covered in the webinar that is embedded below. The project ran from 1 Dec 2011 to 30 November 2015.
About KYROBIO
The objective of KYROBIO project was to broaden the toolbox of single enantiomer chiral chemicals that are produced by industry in Europe using biotechnological routes. The main target is applications of lyase enzymes to selectively synthesize molecules with multiple chiral centres applying enzymatic carbon-carbon and carbon-nitrogen bond formation as the key technical platforms. Synthetic biological techniques were then applied to improve fermentation processes in order to generate better enzymes.
Chiral compounds are an important class of chemicals that have great potential to compete with chemocatalysts in their production processes with associated benefits from reduction in use of organic solvents, toxic metals and energy. However their application has been relatively limited so far. KYROBIO addressed the main challenges to moving forward to the next generation of added value industrial applications of white biotechnology for high value chemical synthesis.
Using a supradisciplinary approach ranging from enzyme development, chemistry, molecular biology, fermentation and innovative isolation techniques the bottlenecks to applying this new technology have been addressed.
KYROBIO has emphasised the dissemination of green sustainable chemistry to a broad audience of industry leaders, academics, policymakers and the public. Researchers have conducted a vigorous public outreach campaign including networking events, webinars, and public science education and training events.
The novel biocatalysts developed in the project are targeted for commercialisation within three years of the project completion. KYROBIO expects to put the EU at the forefront of efficient, sustainable and eco-friendly chemical production that benefits industry, consumers and the environment.
The session covered changing attitudes and approaches by the chemical sector to biobased, the measures needed to accelerate uptake of renewable feedstocks, and views on the most significant recent developments in the biobased industry sector.
Transformative
The SusChem session highlighted the transformative nature of the bioeconomy and its strong impact on the chemical industry. This goes beyond mere adoption of new feedstock; the emergence of the bioeconomy can lead to entirely new value chains, products with new or enhanced functionality, new markets and new business models.
The panelists in the session shared optimistic perspectives on its theme of the ‘chemical industry catching up with biobased’ including several highly relevant success stories. But they also expressed an array of motivations for considering biobased feedstock ranging from an opportunistic approach (the new properties and improved competitiveness that certain biobased products could provide) to strong consumer demand for some segments of the industry and longer term sustainability objectives.
The rational choice of raw materials and their smart use is a key factor for better resource and energy efficiency - indeed the bioeconomy is one option for the chemical industry to reach its challenging sustainability objectives. Therefore the chemical industry needs to be prepared to foster industrial symbiosis combining different technologies in a truly sustainable approach. For example, the combination of chemical and biotechnological processes can provide the tools to maximize the full potential of biomass.
“A Biorefinery is a good example of Industrial Symbiosis as it requires multiple partners”
Considering upstream aspects of the biobased value chain, raw material availability and feedstock price are major drivers that influence directly the development of new biobased products. On the other hand, consumer needs must be taken into consideration since the conception phase of new products and markets, as well as transparency via product labelling, are important to increase the acceptance of biobased products in society.
Cultural barriers and skills
The discussion covered the need to overcome cultural barriers with new or unusual partners and the necessity for the chemical industry to deal more closely with upstream partners in the biobased value chains. Looking at the challenge for another perspective an interesting question was: “Is biobased prepared to be part of the chemical industry?”
Panelists also stressed the need to communicate more and better to society/ the general public about the benefits of biobased products and services.
An interesting discussion within the panel and with the audience touched upon the skills required to develop the bioeconomy. New skills, including ways to work across different disciplines, are strongly required for the development of biobased value chains. However “the borders between disciplines are blurred” and this is a challenge that needs to be addressed.
The session was hosted by Cefic’s Executive Director Research and Innovation Pierre Barthélemy with Dr. Henrike Gebhardt of Evonik Industries, Reinhard Buescher of DG Grow, European Commission, François Monnet from Solvay, Dr. Stefan Lundmark of Perstorp AB, and Dr Marcel Wubbolts from DSM on the discussion panel (see above).
SusChem and the bioeconomy
Industrial Biotechnology is currently worth €23 billion representing just 6% of sales in the overall worldwide chemicals market. However, the sector is significantly out-performing the overall chemicals market at an impressive 20% annual growth rate and has the potential to become the dominant technology of tomorrow’s chemicals industry.
The SusChem Strategic Innovation and Research Agenda (SIRA) includes a dedicated chapter on ‘A Sustainable and Inclusive Bioeconomy’ and SusChem is an essential link between the chemical industry, industrial biotechnology and stakeholders in the bioeconomy.
The platform is actively involved in two large and relevant PPPs between the European Commission and industry launched in 2014:
The joint technology initiative ‘Biobased Industries’ (BBI) that brings together research and industry partners along the whole value chain of biobased products and focuses on innovation for products from biobased feedstock.
SusChem contributes to the alignment of both initiatives. The interface between BBI and
SPIRE is the provision and use of biobased platform chemicals. In addition, both PPPs may support projects using biotechnological conversion processes and specific improvements of biotechnology processes may be eligible for funding through either PPP. SusChem will enable the coherence of on-going and future funding initiatives and the deployment of flagship projects that demonstrate technological leadership and that Europe is a globally competitive location to invest in the bioeconomy.
EFIB 2015 Highlights
Further reporting on the activities at EFIB2015 and preliminary details on EFIB2016 to be held in Glasgow from 18 to 20 October 2016 can be accessed via the EFIB website.
A short video featuring highlights from the EFIB2015 conference and exhibition is embedded below.
For the ninth year running, the Innovation Award 'Biobased Material of the Year' will be presented in 2016 to a candidate from the young, innovative biobased chemicals and materials industry finding appropriate and profitable applications and markets for their biobased products. The focus of the award is on new developments within the area that have been launched in 2015 or will be launched in 2016. Could you be the winner? If so get your application started!
Producers and inventors of innovative biobased materials are invited to complete their application for the award by 8 February 2016 in order to take part in the Innovation Award 'Biobased Material of the Year 2016' and join an exclusive group of winners including well-known actors in the biobased scene Covestro Deutschland AG (Germany), EcoTechnilin Ltd (UK), Ecovative Design (USA), fischerwerke (DE), Henkel (DE), Newlight Technologies (USA), Resopal (DE), Roquette (FR), Tecnaro (DE), Tereos Syral (FR), Staedtler (DE) and others.
The only conditions for applications are that your product or service is a biobased material in a specific new application and must have been launched on the market in 2015 or will be launched in 2016. Applying is fast and simple. Just complete the short application form, send it with a leaflet and two printable pictures of your product by email to award organisers nova-Institut GmbH and send them a product sample by post. For more details of the award and application procedure click here.
Biobased conference
The award will be presented at the Ninth International Conference on Biobased Materials that will take place on 5 and 6 April 2016 at the Maternushaus in Cologne, Germany. This conference aims to provide international major players from the biobased building blocks, polymers and industrial biotechnology industries with an opportunity to present and discuss their latest developments and strategies. Representatives of political bodies and associations will also have their say alongside leading bioeconomy companies.
The Ninth International Conference on Biobased Materials builds on successful previous conferences. Over 250 participants and 20 exhibitors mainly from industry are expected! Register before the end of the year and take advantage of an exclusive early bird discount of 15%.
Dr.
Marcel Wubbolts of Royal DSM
has received the European CTO (Chief Technology Officer) award of the Year
2015, an award for excellence in technology and innovation leadership, for
laying the foundation for the growing number of bio-based manufacturing
processes in DSM’s businesses.
Dr.Wubbolts has a central role in Royal DSM, a
company that over the past two decades has transformed itself completely from a
petrochemical to a life and materials sciences company active in health,
nutrition and materials. Royal DSM is
also a leading player in the biotech industry. “The frontrunner development and
commercialization of lignocellulosic ethanol technology is only one very
relevant example of many in which Dr. Wubbolts is intimately involved. His
enthusiasm and drive for science and sustainable innovation for society is an
inspiration for many”, praises Gert-Jan Gruter of Avantium, jury member and
European CTO of the Year 2014
in SME category.
“The European CTO of the Year Award is a unique way
to recognize outstanding individuals whose vision and passion have made a big
difference in keeping their companies at the forefront of innovation. All the
winners have shown exemplary leadership as technology managers, we’re happy and
proud to recognize them for their impressive accomplishments.”, states Dr. Carlos
Härtel, jury member and Managing Director Europe
The other two winners of the CTO of the Year 2015 are Martin Curley of Intel Corporation and Jonathan O’Halloran of QuantuMDx.
The WALEVA project integrates the development of a pilot plant, currently in the design phase, in the José Lladó Technological Centre in Madrid that will apply technology developed by Técnicas Reunidas for the production of levulinic acid that starts from any agricultural residue or lignocellulosic material. This demonstration plant, which will integrate an innovative chemical process, will demonstrate that this conversion technology can solve a known environmental problem. In a final phase, the project will show that this technology is easily transferable to other European regions with the same environmental problems.
SusChem Spain is one of SusChem's network of national technology platforms (NTPs) that connect SusChem thinking with national and regional programmes, facilitate trans-national collaboration and to advise SusChem on collective national priorities that need to be considered at European level. They are key to the involvement of national stakeholders including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large companies and academic groups, in European initiatives.
Straw problem
Valorising rice straw residue will generate high-value added products and introduce a new value chain. The product - Levulinic acid - is a chemical monomer in high demanded by industry for use in many applications including pharmaceuticals, biodiesels, polymers, food and other chemistries.
The initiative will contribute to a sustainable alternative to the burning of a troublesome residue that affects the rice industry in several Spanish regions such as Extremadura, Andalucía, the Ebro river basin and Albufera in Valencia. WALEVA is supported by the Extremadura region, one of Spain’s main rice production areas, through the rice farmers association. Although alternatives to burning rice residues have been researched, no economically viable and useful chemical technology has yet been found.
The burning of the residues created by this crop generates uncontrolled carbon dioxide emissions. Rice production in the European Union surpassed three million tonnes in 2012. It is estimated that every tonne of rice produces 0.8 tonnes of straw residue meaning some 2.4-1.2 million tonnes of residues are generated annually potentially that could emit over four million tonnes of C02 if burnt. In Spain alone, there are around 105 000 hectares of land used for rice crops yielding 577 000 tonnes of rice straw meaning potential emissions of 985.000 tonnes of CO2 from burning.
Process details
The proposed project includes six major development actions:
•Collection and treatment of the residue
•Design and construction of a storage module
•Pilot plant design
•Pilot plant procurement and construction
•Pilot plant demonstration of an innovative levulinic acid production technology
•Viability studies
The project could estimates that production of levulinic could reach 40 500 tonnes/year in the first three years after the end of the project, rising to 63 000 tonnes/year in the next five years thanks to the project’s dissemination plan. At European level, the project expects production to reach 156 000 tonnes/year within five years of the project end.
The technologies demonstrated in the LIFE + WALEVA project will be positioned as the leading technology used to produce biobased levulinic acid at European level.
The LIFE Programme The LIFE programme is the European Union’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. Since its beginning in 1992, LIFE has co-financed some 4 000 projects across the EU, contributing approximately €3.1 billion to the protection of the environment and climate.
The LIFE programme contributes to sustainable development and to the achievement of the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy, as well as other relevant EU environment and climate strategies and plans linked to environmental and climate change issues.
The ‘Environment’ theme of the new programme covers three priority areas: environment and resource efficiency; nature and biodiversity; and environmental governance and information. The ‘Climate Action’ theme covers climate change mitigation; climate change adaptation; and climate governance and information.
The European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy (EFIB) is the market leading annual event in Europe for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy. And the 2015 event on 27-29 October promises to be better than ever. The eighth EFIB takes place at The Square in Brussels and will welcome some 90 industry experts and over 700 delegates from the leading sectors in biobased value chains and address the future of the bioeconomy in Europe. SusChem and Cefic are organising a dedicated session on biobased chemical value chains as part of EFIB2015.
Industrial Biotechnology is currently worth €23 billion – this represents just 6% of sales in the overall worldwide chemicals market. However, the sector is significantly out-performing the overall chemicals market at an impressive 20% annual growth rate. and it has the potential to become the dominant technology of tomorrow’s chemicals industry representing a huge future opportunity.
Delivering on this opportunity will require significant investment, innovation and value chain development and, most importantly, new collaborations across the sector. In addition the chemical industry is faced with important challenges posed by high energy prices, the impact of the shale gas boom on the development of biobased chemicals markets and the ongoing need for predictable, coherent and supportive policy in the EU.
A biobased Chemical Industry?
In order to understand and overcome these challenges and prosper in the industrial biotechnology market, industry experts throughout the vibrant and innovative biobased community are coming together to discuss the key issues at EFIB2015.
The Cefic session at EFIB2015 takes place on the morning of 29 October and will be chaired and introduced by Pierre Barthélemy, Executive Director Research and Innovation at Cefic. The view of the European Commission DG GROW will be given by Reinhard Buescher, Head of Unit for Chemicals Industry.
Insights from industry will be presented by François Monnet from Solvay, Dr. Henrike Gebhardt of Evonik Industries AG, Dr. Stefan Lundmark of Perstorp AB, and Dr Marcel Wubbolts from DSM. The presentations will be followed by a group discussion.
SusChem and the bioeconomy
The SusChem Strategic Innovation and Research Agenda (SIRA) has a dedicated chapter on ‘A Sustainable and Inclusive Bioeconomy’ and SusChem is an essential link between the chemical industry, industrial biotechnology and stakeholders in the bioeconomy.
The platform is actively involved in two large and relevant PPPs between the European Commission and industry launched in 2014:
The Joint Technology Initiative ‘Biobased Industries’ (BBI) that brings together research and industry partners along the whole value chain of biobased products and focuses on innovation for products from biobased feedstock.
SusChem contributes to the alignment of both initiatives. The interface between BBI and SPIRE is the provision and use of biobased platform chemicals. In addition, both PPPs may support projects using biotechnological conversion processes and specific improvements of biotechnology processes may be eligible for funding through either PPP. SusChem will enable the coherence of ongoing and future funding initiatives and the deployment of flagship projects that demonstrate technological leadership and that Europe is a globally competitive location to invest in the bioeconomy.
More information on EFIB
Delegates to EFIB2015 will receive a comprehensive update on the status and outlook for the biobased industries in Europe and globally. EFIB is proud to foster engagement between policy makers, a broad range of stakeholders connected with the existing biobased value chain and seeks to reach out to, and include, new interlocutors. EFIB2015 is the only meeting to combine high-level discussions on business and policymaking.
