KETs key to EU innovation

The final report of the High Level Group (HLG) on Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) was published late on Wednesday (28 June). This expert group was set up by the European Commission to examine how European industry can maintain or gain a competitive edge through deploying these industrial technologies of the future: micro- and nanoelectronics, advanced materials, industrial biotechnology, photonics, nanotechnology and advanced manufacturing systems.

SusChem co-founders Cefic and EuropaBio both had considerable input to the HLG discussions, support the report’s conclusions and will help bring to reality the recommendations. The report clearly highlights the vital role of sustainable chemistry and industrial biotechnology in furthering competitiveness and addressing the grand challenges facing the EU.

The main conclusions call on decision-makers to adopt radical policy objectives to retain critical capability and capacity in Europe through a single and comprehensive approach to KETs. In particular, the group recommends that the vital importance of KETs should be reflected in the structure and funding balance in the upcoming Horizon 2020 framework for research and innovation and in the priorities of the EU's future regional policy.

Innovation first
Launching the report EC Vice-President Tajani said: "Europe's innovation depends on the development and growth of Key Enabling Technologies. We need to focus our policies better and align them to create more synergies between our instruments to boost Europe's capabilities in the area of KETs."

Technological research and product demonstration projects should be given a high priority. Further recommendations cover the combination of funding mechanisms at EU and national level and a set of actions to enhance technological skills in Europe. An "in Europe first" Intellectual Property policy is called for and a monitoring mechanism to analyse market developments on KETs is also proposed.

The Commission will report back on the policy recommendations in the report in a communication scheduled for the end of 2011.

Gernot Klotz, SusChem board member and executive director of Cefic’s Research & Innovation group, commented: “The report gives a solid blueprint [on] how the entire value chain can be activated simultaneously, which includes not only end-user industries like cars and computer chip producers, but also considers value chain process and materials industries like chemicals.” This value chain approach is a key element in SusChem’s work on innovation issues.

Sustainable chemistry is at the root of the future manufacturing value chain. The report is also an important step towards EU 2020 policy goals for sustainable growth, including efficient use of water, energy storage, resource efficiency and health.

Klotz added: “Putting through these recommendations keeps industry on the front foot to exploit KETs quickly. The end game is a strengthened EU manufacturing base, including chemicals, that will produce lighter cars with longer lasting batteries, better medical products, and smarter ways to achieve the EU’s ambitious goals for more energy efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.”

Cefic, EuropaBio and SusChem are already working with Commission officials to ensure the role of sustainable chemistry in emerging technologies. Concrete proposals have been developed that provide solutions for resource industries, raw materials, water efficiency and smart cities involving the full value chain.


Recommendations
Launched in 2010 by European Commissioners Kroes, Geoghegan-Quinn and Tajani, the KET HLG (members pictured above) had three main objectives:

• To assess the competitive situation of the relevant technologies in the EU and their contribution to address major societal challenges.


• To analyse the available public and private research and development and innovation (R&D&I) capacities for KETs in the EU.


• To propose specific policy recommendations for more effective industrial development and deployment of KETs in the EU.

The final report outlines the need for an integrated approach for all six KETs from ideas to marketable products, the need to establish combined funding mechanisms to promote KET R&D&I projects and finally a three pillar bridge model and strategy to enable KETs to pass over the so-called ‘valley of death’ from research to achieve marketable products and technologies.

Recommendations include the need for three separate stages to overcome this issue:

• Technological research, consisting of taking advantage of European scientific excellence in transforming ideals from research into technologies competitive at a global level.


• Product demonstration, in which exploitation of the KETs occurs to create innovative European product prototypes competitive at a global level.


• Competitive manufacturing, allowing product prototypes duly validated during the demonstration phase to create and maintain in Europe attractive economic environments and globally competitive industries.

Combinations of KETs are embedded at the core of most advanced products, such as electric cars, mobile phones or a advanced medical analysis technology. For example, an electric car is a combination of advanced materials for batteries, microelectronics components for power electronics in order to reduce the weight of the car, photonics for low consumption lighting, industrial biotechnologies for low friction tyres and finally advanced manufacturing systems to produce electrical vehicles at a competitive cost.

Download the full report here.

Amsterdam hosts EFIB2011

This, the fourth Annual European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology & Biobased Economy (EFIB2011), will reflect the growing context and significance of this sector. For environmental, political and economic security in Europe industry, policy-makers and academia must come together to provide viable bio-alternatives for materials, energy and products. Europe’s knowledge and infrastructure makes it uniquely positioned to lead the industrial biotechnology revolution and bring the bio-based economy to the mainstream. EFIB2011 is one of the leading conferences in this sector with high profile speakers and a comprehensive exhibition.

EFIB 2011 will take place on 18-20 October 2011 at the Novotel Amsterdam City Hotel and is organised by SusChem co-founders EuropaBio, in partnership with IntertechPira.

EFIB 2011 will feature over 60 speakers in two plenary and six parallel tracks evaluating the evolving context and growing significance of the industrial biotechnology sector. Two plenary sessions will discuss timely topics including the role of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy reform in the bioeconomy, the bioplastics markets, the use of the bio-based products by mainstream consumer brands, and the utilisation of biofuels by the aviation industry. SusChem’s Peter Nagler of Evonik will contribute to the closing plenary session.

The closing plenary keynote speech will be delivered by Dr Roger Wyse from the leading biotechnology investment firm, Burrill & Company, who will outline challenges to financing a global biobased economy and opportunities for emerging markets.

The six parallel conference tracks cover research, the NGO perspective, innovation, strategy, policy, financing and business in sets of three each day. The Research session will look into breakthroughs in industrial biotechnology and biorefinery research.

The NGO discussion session will involve representatives from NGOs, industry and policy makers and will discuss how sustainability can be measured, visualised and implemented in sourcing and the value chain. It will provide a platform for NGOs involved in the development of policy in these fields to express their views and positions on where the challenges, threats and opportunities lie for Europe.

Innovation
EFIB 2011 will feature two Innovation sessions, one on each day, and will examine different innovative biobased products. SusChem board members Marcel Wubbolts of DSM and Wim Soetaert of Ghent University will contribute to the innovation session on the second day.

The Strategy track will discuss the importance of improving awareness and understanding of the bio-economy through targeted communications. Five presentations will be followed by a panel debate on the subject of 'Communicating the Knowledge-Based Bio-economy (KBBE)'.

The Policy, Financing & Business session will explore how to profitably develop biobased products from feedstock to end product.

Joanna Dupont-Inglis, Industrial Biotechnology Director at EuropaBio says: "We are pleased to bring EFIB to Amsterdam this year and to organise it in co-operation with NIABA, the Netherlands' Biotechnology Industry Association. Although EFIB focuses largely on European industry, it has captured the interest from attendees around the world, including North America, Asia and Australia, which we are delighted about. We aim to continue attracting a truly international audience to help foster global cooperation."

More information
Full details of all presentations can be found on the event's official website and the conference brochure can be downloaded here.

EuropaBio and Cefic members are eligible for a discounted registration for EFIB2011 as members of partnering organisations. Details on how to register for the conference can be found here.

Plant-based Chemistry in Paris

The first European Congress on plant-based chemistry will take place in Paris on September 5 – 7. Plant-based chemistry constitutes a major avenue for progress in developing sustainable chemistry in Europe. Plant-based chemistry could enable a significant alternative feedstock resource from within the European agricultural community.

The two-day congress 'Plant-based Chemistry for 2020' will take place in the Maison de la Chimie in Paris and will welcome some 400 delegates representing the main plant-based chemistry players (including academic researchers, industry representatives, policymakers and venture capital providers) in Europe with the focus on achievements, challenges and opportunities for this field.

On the first day participants will discuss the state of play in biorefinery concepts from a number of perspectives in the morning, and assess the market for plant-based bioproducts in 2020 in the afternoon.

Policy and impact
On September 6 the programme will look at European policy statements and their likely impact by 2020 during the morning sessions. This session will include a contribution from SusChem on its position on the Knowledge-based Bioeconomy from SusChem board member Marcel Wubbolts.

The afternoon session will look at incentives and regulation and also feature the 2011 awards ceremony for the Agrobiobase bio economy competition.

In addition technical visits to a number of company facilities are possible on Wednesday September 8.

More details of the programme can be found here and details of the registration proceedure here.

The congress is co-organised by the Association Chimie du Vegetal (ACDV), Axelera, the European Renewable Resources and Materials Association (ERRMA), the Germany-based Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR), the French Industries and Agro-Resources cluster (IAR), the UK’s National Centre for Biorenewable Energy, Fuels and Materials (NNFCC) and the Union des industries Chimiques (UIC) – the French chemical industry body.

FP7 PPP Info Days announced

A two-day information event on FP7 Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) calls on the Energy-efficient Buildings, Factories of the Future and Green Cars initiatives will be held in Brussels on 11-12 July 2011.

The event to be held at the Charlemagne Building will support the preparation of proposals for the third tranche of cross-thematic coordinated calls by these research PPPs. Delegates will hear about the proposed research areas, conditions for participation and future priorities of the PPPs.

The event will also host formal and informal brokerage and networking opportunities.

Details of the event programme can be found here and online registration can be accessed here. Registration will close on 5 July.

SusChem News hopes to be reporting from the conference.

Horizon 2020

"Horizon 2020" has topped the poll of the short-listed names for the future EU-funding programme for research and innovation.

Horizon 2020 received 3055 votes, with runner-up Imagine 2020 getting 2785 and Discover 2020 coming in third with 2478.

The full name that will be part of the legislative proposal at the end of 2011 for the new programme will therefore be: "Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation".

Two nominators of the winning name Marcela Endlova, a teacher from the Czech Republic, and Beata Zyngier, also a teacher, from Poland will get to meet Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn at the European Innovation Convention in Brussels in December.

Announcing the winning name Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn said: "The new name is an important symbol of a new departure and a new adventure. Horizon 2020 is not just a new name for the same Framework Programme. This will be a smarter way to support researchers and innovators in Europe – so as to further boost excellence and to help ensure that good ideas reach the market and generate sustainable economic growth and new jobs. Research and innovation funding will focus more clearly on addressing global challenges. Needless red tape will be cut out and participation made simpler."

Draft 2012 FP7 Industrial Technologies Call Available

The European Commission has published a draft working paper on the likely calls for the 21012 FP7 programme in Industrial Technologes (aka NMP or Nanotechnology and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional Materials and new Production processes and devices).

The current orientation document outlines proposed priorities for the 2012 NMP programme. It is expected that the publication date for all call documents including the final work programme will be on 20 July.

Innovation Union Information and Intelligence system launched

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has just launched the Innovation Union Information and Intelligence system (I3S) as a web-based platform for all Innovation Union stakeholders.

This web-based platform gathers information on each of the 34 commitments made in the Innovation Union Communication published in October 2010. These commitments include crucial issues for innovation such as e-skills, access to finance, a viable and economic EU patent, eco-innovation or joint public procurements.

At the core of the I3S is a searchable repository of detailed information on each of the 34 Commitments. For each of these, a dedicated section of the site sets out:

• the key dimensions of challenges faced



• the objectives in tackling these challenges



• the approach planned to meet these challenges

Key milestones along the way are presented, highlighting the achievements made and specific events, publications and other activities planned.

Background intelligence
Complementing this information, the system provides more detailed background intelligence information relating to each commitment. These facilitate further exploration of the key issues addressed, and provide additional supporting data and analytical perspectives.

The portal aims to ensure that all stakeholders are well informed on the implementation of the commitments by providing easy access to up to date and comprehensive information.

It is planned that the I3S site will be complemented by the launch of a web-based portal on research and innovation policies in EU Member States, Associated Countries and a number of third countries.