The University of York is to lead on a £5million project to develop the bioeconomy across Yorkshire, the Humber region and the Tees Valley. The THYME project – this is its name – will build on the existing expertise and innovation in the region in a new collaboration between the Universities of York, Hull and Teesside. Those involved in the three year project say the funding will boost the region’s economy, create jobs and deliver major environmental benefits.
An Open-innovation Platform to strengthen cooperation and joint development of bio-based industries and downstream sectors. This is BIOPEN, the European open-innovation platform that will support bioeconomy stakeholders to succeed, offering them new ways to accelerate the production of their sustainable and competitive bio-based products.
Royal DSM, a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials, headquartered in the Netherlands, will bring innovative solutions to the biofuels industry with a full portfolio offering of yeast and enzymes for starch, fiber and biomass conversions.
British multinational company Croda International Plc, specialized in the field of speciality chemicals for some of the biggest, most successful brands in the world, acquired Nautilus Biosciences Canada Inc, a technology-rich marine biotechnology company based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
French industrial biotech company Global Bioenergies and German carmaker Audi reached a key milestone in their multi-year agreement: renewable gasoline components were produced and shipped to Audi. Using its Leuna Demo plant, Global Bioenergies has produced high-purity renewable isobutene, which was further converted by the Fraunhofer Institute into high-performance gasoline additives including isooctane, ETBE and isododecane. These e-fuels will be used in engine testing by Audi, in complement to those already performed by Global Bioenergies.
Air Liquide, AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals, Enerkem and the Port of Rotterdam signed a project development agreement covering initial investments in an advanced waste-to-chemistry facility in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The facility will be the first of its kind in Europe to provide a sustainable alternative solution for non-recyclable wastes, converting waste plastics and other mixed wastes into new raw materials.
“Europe is becoming a very attractive area to invest in bio-based Industries: where BIC members were announcing a portfolio of 2bn euros investment in 2014 the same survey announced 5 bn euros investments in 2017”. To say it – in this long, exclusive interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Philippe Mengal, executive director of the BBI JU. The Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking is a €3.7 billion Public-Private Partnership between the EU and the Bio-based Industries Consortium. Operating under Horizon 2020, it is driven by the Vision and Strategic Innovation and Research Agenda (SIRA) developed by the industry
According to Mengal, “The next decade is a critical period for the EU. We need to reinvent our economy to face the challenges of climate change and resource constraints. Europe is committed to excelling in smart, sustainable growth and mobilizing investment to create new products and new markets is key”.
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso
The Italian food company Barilla Group launched a new venture capital fund and innovation hub, called Blu1877, to support innovators in creating the future of sustainable food. “We decided to set-up Blu1877 to interact and support the effort of those that are creating the future of food. We are inspired by the joy of eating good food. Good food that support people live healthy lifestyles and leave a healthy planet to our children,” states the Blu1877 website.
SECI, the holding belonging to the Maccaferri family, launched the bioplastics project to be carried out at the San Quirico production site using the Bio-on technology. The project will be carried out by the company Sebiplast s.r.l., a controlled company of the SECI Group, in the production site where today stands the sugar factory Sadam S.p.A.
UPM Raflatac is extending its range of film face materials for the European market with a new white plant-based material that provides a sustainable alternative to fossil-based films for a wide variety of end uses. “RafBio PE White – UPM claims – performs just like standard PE film, and its excellent flexibility makes it ideal for the squeezable bottles and contoured containers that are widely used in home and personal care applications”.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 