An overview of the F³ Factory aims, objectives and technical challenges will be presented during a session on European projects at the 19th International Congress of Chemical and Process Engineering (CHISA) and 7th European Congress of Chemical Engineering (ECCE) 2010.
The European Projects session is one of eleven parallel events to be held during the joint CHISA/ECCE Congress in Prague, Czech Republic from 28 August to 1 September this year. The F³ Factory will feature alonside two complimentary FP7 funded pojects: COPIRIDE and PILLs.
A large number of papers will feature during the the F³ Factory session including:
- Sigurd Buchholz and Tobias Grömping of Bayer Technology Services (project co-ordinators) will present an overview of the aims/objectives and early stage developments of the F³ Factory project;
- Consortium partners, Britest and Procter & Gamble, will present a joint paper on the 'Methodology required for F³ Factory process design in large scale continuous plants';
- AstraZeneca, Britest, Newcastle University and the Technical University Denmark will present a joint paper on 'F³ Factory process design for fine chemical and pharmaceutical transformations';
- TU Dortmund University and Arkema will present a joint paper on 'Process intensification of n-butyl acrylate synthesis using catalytic distillation - a theoretical study';
- Ruhr-University Bochum, University of Paderborn, TU Dortmund University and Bayer Technology Services will present a joint paper on 'Intensified absorption and distillation devices for modular chemical production processes'.
In addition several industrial and academic partners in the consortium will present posters on their activity in the F³ Factory project.
The CHISA Congress is a major biennial event for the European chemical and process engineering community which brings together leading academics and key industrialists involved in the academic interface. It is therefore an ideal platform to showcase the key European projects that seek to address major transformational challenges in this sector as well as to engage with potential stakeholders from the wider European community.
For more information visit the F³ Factory website.
Monday, 22 March 2010
Rethinking Water: SusChem + WSSTP
Today on World Water Day, SusChem is pleased to announce its partnership with the Water Supply and Sanitation Technology Platform (WSSTP).
The cooperation has set out a high-level roadmap for sustainable water use in an integrated water management system between the chemical industry, urban water and value chain partners.
The WHO ministerial meeting on Environment and Health that took place in Parme, Italy earlier in March identified a lack of clean water due to insufficient infrastructure and climate change as a serious threat to children’s health, one which it plans to address. The new SusChem approach to water management will mean water for public use and water used in industry would no longer need to compete for the same resources. The integrated water management system put forward by SusChem and the WSSTP will include water reuse, complementary water streams, and reduced water consumption.
Future materials and processes like renewable feedstocks and biotechnology which are water intensive will also be addressed by the project which aims to provide a new framework for water use. The overall collaboration has been very positively received by the European Commission and a project proposal, within the EU’s FP7 2010 programme for funding, has received a positive evaluation response. In the next stage, SusChem and WSSTP hope to be able to present a demonstration project.
“SusChem’s cooperation with the value chain shows how working in a complementary way is far superior to competing for resources. It reflects SusChem’s strategic agenda which is to harness innovation to respond to societal challenges” said Cefic Innovation Manager Ger Spork. “Rethinking the traditional [approach] will help industry tackle water use in a world where the resource is already under pressure and should be treated as a valuable raw material instead of a simple utility.”
SusChem’s value chain cooperation responds to the European Commission’s recommendations in the Expert Group on Technology Platforms published in October 2009 and the High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the Chemical Industry.
For more information email the SusChem secretariat.
The cooperation has set out a high-level roadmap for sustainable water use in an integrated water management system between the chemical industry, urban water and value chain partners.
The WHO ministerial meeting on Environment and Health that took place in Parme, Italy earlier in March identified a lack of clean water due to insufficient infrastructure and climate change as a serious threat to children’s health, one which it plans to address. The new SusChem approach to water management will mean water for public use and water used in industry would no longer need to compete for the same resources. The integrated water management system put forward by SusChem and the WSSTP will include water reuse, complementary water streams, and reduced water consumption.
Future materials and processes like renewable feedstocks and biotechnology which are water intensive will also be addressed by the project which aims to provide a new framework for water use. The overall collaboration has been very positively received by the European Commission and a project proposal, within the EU’s FP7 2010 programme for funding, has received a positive evaluation response. In the next stage, SusChem and WSSTP hope to be able to present a demonstration project.
“SusChem’s cooperation with the value chain shows how working in a complementary way is far superior to competing for resources. It reflects SusChem’s strategic agenda which is to harness innovation to respond to societal challenges” said Cefic Innovation Manager Ger Spork. “Rethinking the traditional [approach] will help industry tackle water use in a world where the resource is already under pressure and should be treated as a valuable raw material instead of a simple utility.”
SusChem’s value chain cooperation responds to the European Commission’s recommendations in the Expert Group on Technology Platforms published in October 2009 and the High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the Chemical Industry.
For more information email the SusChem secretariat.
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
SusChem Netherlands starts work
The Dutch SusChem National Technology Platform (NTP) – SusChem Nederland – held its first meeting on 12 October 2009 at the offices of VNCI in The Hague. The platform is planning a number of activities during 2010.
The chairman of SusChem Nederland’s governing board is Gerard van Harten (Chairman of the Board at Dow Benelux) and the NTP’s secretary is Nelo Emerencia of VNCI. Three Working Groups have been established covering White Biotechnology (led by Jan Wisse, Managing Director of the Netherlands’ Biotech Industry Association - Niaba), Material Technologies (led by Rene Lammers, Global Director of R&D at Unilever) and Reaction & Process Design (led by Andrzej Stankiewicz, Professor of Process Intensification at TU Delft).
A draft programme for 2010 was discussed at the initial management meeting and a further meeting was held on 26 January in The Hague. At the January meeting the three work groups reported on a first analysis of ongoing projects and programmes in the Netherlands (and across Europe) where SusChem Nederland should make contact. The team also looked at fleshing out the 2010 programme. A dedicated website for SusChem NL will be launched during the year.
For more information please contact Nelo Emerencia of VNCI.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
SusChem Innovation Project wins INNOVA funding
SusChem’s first pan European Innovation project - BIOCHEM - has been selected for funding by the European Commission under its INNOVA scheme. INNOVA is part of the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) managed (during 2009) by DG Enterprise. The proposed total cost of the BIOCHEM project is €4.5M including a significant EU contribution. The project will hold its kick-off meeting on 5 February 2010.
Commenting on the decision Ger Spork, Innovation Manager at Cefic said: “This is a key concrete step in SusChem’s new focus to foster innovation in the chemical and related industries.” This new direction was prompted, in part, by the recent report of the High Level Group (HLG) on the competitiveness of the European chemical industry which asked SusChem to consider promoting innovation networks in key strategic areas – in particular to support SMEs.
BIOCHEM
“The BIOCHEM project aims to stimulate demand driven bio-based business in the chemical sector and improve the innovation capacity of bio-based chemistry start-ups and SMEs,” says Steve Fletcher of the UK’s Chemistry Innovation Knowledge Transfer Network who lead the BIOCHEM consortium. “In addition, and as a consequence of these actions, the project will help to accelerate the development of the bio-based chemistry market, which is one of the six Lead Market Initiatives (LMI) identified by the EU.”
Initially, using its network of partners, BIOCHEM will define and promote bio-based product opportunities in the chemical sector. The project will also facilitate and help finance of new bio-based business ideas to proof-of-concept, including facilitating access for organizations to European test facilities.
The project will develop tools, methodologies and processes (such as innovation management, life cycle methodologies, business planning, fund raising etc.) that are targeted towards those SMEs who aspire to innovate in the bio-based products market. BIOCHEM has a target of reaching at least 250 companies across eight European countries with these tools.
It will facilitate partnering of technology providers (from both industry and academic) with solution seekers, through new on-line open innovation support tools. In addition it will build capacity with regional and national Innovation Management organisations and chemistry cluster organizations to improve innovation management with local SMEs.
Investment fund
A novel concept will be the market testing of a “federated” Bio-Based Products Investment Fund (BBP-IF) to involve at least five regional funding agencies, business angels and early-stage funders in different European countries. This should improve access to capital and provide support to early stage ventures and accelerate their international growth.
During the project the impact of the different support tools and the integrated service package on start-ups and SMEs in six countries will be assessed. From this recommendations for extending the scope and uptake of the tools developed by BIOCHEM will be made.
In addition to Chemistry Innovation, the BIOCHEM consortium includes other national innovation programmes in Italy, Belgium, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands and Spain, as well as specialist partners in venture capital, public funding and programme consultancy. It will also work with other established European networks and innovation initiatives.
For more information, please contact Steve Fletcher at Chemistry Innovation.
Commenting on the decision Ger Spork, Innovation Manager at Cefic said: “This is a key concrete step in SusChem’s new focus to foster innovation in the chemical and related industries.” This new direction was prompted, in part, by the recent report of the High Level Group (HLG) on the competitiveness of the European chemical industry which asked SusChem to consider promoting innovation networks in key strategic areas – in particular to support SMEs.
BIOCHEM
“The BIOCHEM project aims to stimulate demand driven bio-based business in the chemical sector and improve the innovation capacity of bio-based chemistry start-ups and SMEs,” says Steve Fletcher of the UK’s Chemistry Innovation Knowledge Transfer Network who lead the BIOCHEM consortium. “In addition, and as a consequence of these actions, the project will help to accelerate the development of the bio-based chemistry market, which is one of the six Lead Market Initiatives (LMI) identified by the EU.”
Initially, using its network of partners, BIOCHEM will define and promote bio-based product opportunities in the chemical sector. The project will also facilitate and help finance of new bio-based business ideas to proof-of-concept, including facilitating access for organizations to European test facilities.
The project will develop tools, methodologies and processes (such as innovation management, life cycle methodologies, business planning, fund raising etc.) that are targeted towards those SMEs who aspire to innovate in the bio-based products market. BIOCHEM has a target of reaching at least 250 companies across eight European countries with these tools.
It will facilitate partnering of technology providers (from both industry and academic) with solution seekers, through new on-line open innovation support tools. In addition it will build capacity with regional and national Innovation Management organisations and chemistry cluster organizations to improve innovation management with local SMEs.
Investment fund
A novel concept will be the market testing of a “federated” Bio-Based Products Investment Fund (BBP-IF) to involve at least five regional funding agencies, business angels and early-stage funders in different European countries. This should improve access to capital and provide support to early stage ventures and accelerate their international growth.
During the project the impact of the different support tools and the integrated service package on start-ups and SMEs in six countries will be assessed. From this recommendations for extending the scope and uptake of the tools developed by BIOCHEM will be made.
In addition to Chemistry Innovation, the BIOCHEM consortium includes other national innovation programmes in Italy, Belgium, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands and Spain, as well as specialist partners in venture capital, public funding and programme consultancy. It will also work with other established European networks and innovation initiatives.
For more information, please contact Steve Fletcher at Chemistry Innovation.
Monday, 18 January 2010
SusChem Hybrid Materials Event
During the first week of March 2010 a workshop on ‘Hybrid Materials, future needs and opportunities between material classes’ is being organized by SusChem with the suppport of the Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI) and in conjunction with the European Commission. There is a clear need to increase the involvement of leading European materials producing companies in the Commission Research Framework Programmmes and increase their innovation focus.
The workshop will focus on developing new strategies in materials research in Europe that will serve to inform SusChem’s input into relevant areas of FP8. The outcome of the workshop will also be used to adjust the DPI’s research programme over the next five years.
The workshop will cover two days (noon to noon) and will involve up to 20 keynote speakers, who will give their views on materials needs over the next 4 – 10 years. The workshop will take place in Luxembourg at the European Commission's Jean Monnet building on 3 - 4 March.
For more information please contact the SusChem secretariat.
The workshop will focus on developing new strategies in materials research in Europe that will serve to inform SusChem’s input into relevant areas of FP8. The outcome of the workshop will also be used to adjust the DPI’s research programme over the next five years.
The workshop will cover two days (noon to noon) and will involve up to 20 keynote speakers, who will give their views on materials needs over the next 4 – 10 years. The workshop will take place in Luxembourg at the European Commission's Jean Monnet building on 3 - 4 March.
For more information please contact the SusChem secretariat.
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
European Sustainable Chemistry Award 2010
SusChem is supporting the European Sustainable Chemistry Award (ESCA) recently launched by the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences (EuCheMS).
The €10 000 first prize will be awarded at the 3rd EuCheMS Chemistry Congress that will take place in Nürnberg Germany from 29 August to 2 September 2010. The award is designed to:
- recognize individuals or small research groups who make an outstanding contribution to sustainable development by applying sustainable chemistry
- promote innovation in chemistry and chemical products that deliver clear sustainable improvements
- demonstrate that chemistry is playing a central role in delivering sustainable solutions to society
The deadline for submission of applications is 15 February 2010. For more information visit the EuCheMS website or contact the EuCheMS secretariat. Good luck!
December 2009 Editorial - Rodney Townsend
A very warm welcome to the latest issue of our SusChem Solutions newsletter.
As we approach the latter period of FP7, much is changing in terms of the Commission’s research and innovation priorities. It is important that SusChem should respond to these changes in order to ensure that the substantial progress we have made so far is consolidated. Long before the Commission initiated its “Strategy for Recovery”, SusChem had recognised that we needed to update and perhaps re-focus our Implementation Action Plan (IAP) on a regular basis. Consequently, over the summer and autum SusChem’s technology work groups have been putting the finishing touches to the 2009 IAP update. A comprehensive and consolidated IAP document will soon be available for all stakeholders and will be widely circulated for comment. Please have a look at this document and let us know your views!
As you know we announced at the 2009 Stakeholder conference in Prague that the IAP Update would now be an annual process. The comments, additions and inputs from SusChem stakeholders and others on the 2009 IAP document will form the basis for this new process and enable us to respond to Commission initiatives in an up-to-date and authoritative manner.
In addition, the regular IAP Update is designed to make sure that our research and innovation agenda is always relevant to the research needs of society. A similar focus on the issues facing society will be one of the main approaches for planning the next European Research Framework Programme, FP8, which will begin in 2014.
FP8 is expected to focus on Grand Challenges and Great Ideas. The first of these comprises a process to convert problems, questions and concerns of citizens into a series of Grand Challenges and then act to meet them through research – examples being social cohesion, global security, education, climate change, environment and energy. Grand Challenges is very much a “top-down” exercise. By contrast, via a “bottom-up” process, Great Ideas looks to universities, research institutes, companies in pan-European teams to develop new ‘higher risk’ research concepts with a focus on cross-disciplinary, cross-institutional research.
SusChem already has defined its SRA by looking at general societal areas of concern. We are therefore very well placed to help shape FP8 and respond to policy developments. For the future prosperity of sustainable chemistry and biotechnology in Europe it is essential that we do influence FP8 effectively. With the very recent announcement by President Barroso that he wants to appoint a Chief Scientist to “deliver proactive, scientific advice throughout all stages of policy development and delivery” it looks like true science-based policy may at last become a reality across the European Commission.
If we are to improve our innovative capabilities within Europe and enhance our competitive capabilities in the future, especially in sustainable technologies, it is very important that we enhance the skills capabilities of not only young people passing through universities and into the job market, but also all members of the current European work force. SusChem is taking a lead here in assessing the skills needs of the future and I was delighted to be invited to speak on skills needs, and what we are doing to deliver them, at the recent ECTN Conference in Dresden in early September. On that occasion, it was good also to learn of the achievements and future plans of the European Research Council, through an excellent lecture from Prof Hans Joachim Freund. ERC support for chemistry has been encouraging but we must not be complacent as the ERC reviews progress to date and formulates future plans.
As many of you will know my term as SusChem Chairman was nearing its end and I was expecting to stand down at the end of this year. A process was agreed by the SusChem board earlier this year to nominate and select my successor. The process has gone well and some possible successors identified, but with all the changes taking place in both the management structures and objectives of SusChem at present, it is very important that whoever succeeds me should “hit the ground running”, so to speak. For these reasons, it was felt that to effect the transition at the end of this year might be a premature move and I have been asked if I would be prepared to stay as Chairman for a further period of six months. This means that we now expect to welcome a new Chairperson in July 2010. Whoever that new person is, I do hope you will all show him the support and enthusiasm that I have been fortunate to receive from you. As the recent brokerage event shows, SusChem continues to be a great success and has a tremendous and valuable future in front of it.
As ever, if you have any comments on SusChem activities or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us via suschem@suschem.org. And please note the date for our next Stakeholder event in Lyon on 4 May 2010 – we look forward to seeing you there!
Prof. Rodney Townsend
Chairman SusChem Board,
Director Science & Technology, Royal Society of Chemistry
In this issue of SusChem Solutions
SusChem Brokerage Event
EU Recovery Package
PNO Consortium building
SusChem Chair Succession
Stakeholder Event 4 May 2010 - Lyon
1st SusChem France Stakeholder Event
SusChem/DPI Polymers Event - March 2010
EuCheMS SustainableChemistry Award 2010
As we approach the latter period of FP7, much is changing in terms of the Commission’s research and innovation priorities. It is important that SusChem should respond to these changes in order to ensure that the substantial progress we have made so far is consolidated. Long before the Commission initiated its “Strategy for Recovery”, SusChem had recognised that we needed to update and perhaps re-focus our Implementation Action Plan (IAP) on a regular basis. Consequently, over the summer and autum SusChem’s technology work groups have been putting the finishing touches to the 2009 IAP update. A comprehensive and consolidated IAP document will soon be available for all stakeholders and will be widely circulated for comment. Please have a look at this document and let us know your views!
As you know we announced at the 2009 Stakeholder conference in Prague that the IAP Update would now be an annual process. The comments, additions and inputs from SusChem stakeholders and others on the 2009 IAP document will form the basis for this new process and enable us to respond to Commission initiatives in an up-to-date and authoritative manner.
In addition, the regular IAP Update is designed to make sure that our research and innovation agenda is always relevant to the research needs of society. A similar focus on the issues facing society will be one of the main approaches for planning the next European Research Framework Programme, FP8, which will begin in 2014.
FP8 is expected to focus on Grand Challenges and Great Ideas. The first of these comprises a process to convert problems, questions and concerns of citizens into a series of Grand Challenges and then act to meet them through research – examples being social cohesion, global security, education, climate change, environment and energy. Grand Challenges is very much a “top-down” exercise. By contrast, via a “bottom-up” process, Great Ideas looks to universities, research institutes, companies in pan-European teams to develop new ‘higher risk’ research concepts with a focus on cross-disciplinary, cross-institutional research.
SusChem already has defined its SRA by looking at general societal areas of concern. We are therefore very well placed to help shape FP8 and respond to policy developments. For the future prosperity of sustainable chemistry and biotechnology in Europe it is essential that we do influence FP8 effectively. With the very recent announcement by President Barroso that he wants to appoint a Chief Scientist to “deliver proactive, scientific advice throughout all stages of policy development and delivery” it looks like true science-based policy may at last become a reality across the European Commission.
If we are to improve our innovative capabilities within Europe and enhance our competitive capabilities in the future, especially in sustainable technologies, it is very important that we enhance the skills capabilities of not only young people passing through universities and into the job market, but also all members of the current European work force. SusChem is taking a lead here in assessing the skills needs of the future and I was delighted to be invited to speak on skills needs, and what we are doing to deliver them, at the recent ECTN Conference in Dresden in early September. On that occasion, it was good also to learn of the achievements and future plans of the European Research Council, through an excellent lecture from Prof Hans Joachim Freund. ERC support for chemistry has been encouraging but we must not be complacent as the ERC reviews progress to date and formulates future plans.
As many of you will know my term as SusChem Chairman was nearing its end and I was expecting to stand down at the end of this year. A process was agreed by the SusChem board earlier this year to nominate and select my successor. The process has gone well and some possible successors identified, but with all the changes taking place in both the management structures and objectives of SusChem at present, it is very important that whoever succeeds me should “hit the ground running”, so to speak. For these reasons, it was felt that to effect the transition at the end of this year might be a premature move and I have been asked if I would be prepared to stay as Chairman for a further period of six months. This means that we now expect to welcome a new Chairperson in July 2010. Whoever that new person is, I do hope you will all show him the support and enthusiasm that I have been fortunate to receive from you. As the recent brokerage event shows, SusChem continues to be a great success and has a tremendous and valuable future in front of it.
As ever, if you have any comments on SusChem activities or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us via suschem@suschem.org. And please note the date for our next Stakeholder event in Lyon on 4 May 2010 – we look forward to seeing you there!
Prof. Rodney Townsend
Chairman SusChem Board,
Director Science & Technology, Royal Society of Chemistry
In this issue of SusChem Solutions
SusChem Brokerage Event
EU Recovery Package
PNO Consortium building
SusChem Chair Succession
Stakeholder Event 4 May 2010 - Lyon
1st SusChem France Stakeholder Event
SusChem/DPI Polymers Event - March 2010
EuCheMS SustainableChemistry Award 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)