European chemistry sector organisations meeting in London on 25 November have unveiled areas for future research and technology developments in the next 20 years.
The research agenda was defined by the Technology Platform on Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem), which is led by the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) and the biotech industry organisation EuropaBio. The technology platform, which has received support from the European Commission, is designed to chart a course for global business leadership and sustainability in the European chemical sector.
The research will be focused on the following three areas:
- white biotechnology - to develop and produce novel, innovative products and processes in a cost- and eco-efficient manner;
- materials technology - to develop new and innovative advanced materials;
- reaction and process design - to develop environmentally sustainable industrial processes.
Examples of future areas of application include health care, energy efficiency in housing, and use of biological processes in industrial manufacturing.
SusChem will issue the final implementation action plan of the research agenda in mid 2006. A stakeholder event will take place in Budapest in August 2006 to discuss the implementation plan.
On 2 December, EuropaBio co-organises an investor forum in Barcelona for small and medium sized industrial biotech enterprises to meet with investors and large life science companies.
