Initiators

Biorizon is a cross-border initiative between TNO, VITO, ECN part of TNO and the Green Chemistry Campus and is part of Biobased Delta. Biorizon aims to include the global leaders in the fields of feedstock, conversion, equipment and end products as participants in the Shared Research Center, based on the open innovation methodology.

For the initiators, Biorizon is a unique opportunity to accelerate the innovation required and, in doing so, contribute to the realization of the biobased economy. It also fits in perfectly with the COCI status that VNCI has awarded the Green Chemistry Campus: Center for Open Chemical Innovation. TNO and ECN part of TNO (from the Netherlands) and VITO (from Belgium), who have years of experience with this form of collaboration, are supplying the researchers. They deploy their knowledge and experience in the field of biotech, thermochemistry, chemistry and process technology. Furthermore, they work together closely with a select group of academic organizations around the world.

Biorizon is located at the Green Chemistry Campus in Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands, at the heart of industries between Antwerp and Rotterdam. Additionally Biorizon is operating research laboratories on the VITO premises in Mol, Belgium.

About TNO

TNO is an independent research organization that, on the basis of its expertise and innovations, makes an important contribution to the competitive strength of businesses and organizations, the economy and the quality of society in its entirety. TNO occupies a unique position thanks to its versatility and its capacity to integrate this knowledge.

About VITO

VITO is a leading European independent research and technology organisation in the areas of cleantech and sustainable development, elaborating solutions for the large societal challenges of today.

About ECN part of TNO

ECN part of TNO accelerates the energy transition together with partners and the government so that in 2050 the Netherlands will have an energy regime free of CO2 emissions. The challenge is to reduce CO2 emissions by phasing in sustainable energy and gradually phasing out fossil energy while keeping the energy supply secure, robust and affordable.

About Green Chemistry Campus

The Green Chemistry Campus, located on the SABIC Innovative Plastics site is an incubator where businesses accelerate their bio-based innovations on the cutting edge of agro and chemistry. The campus is an initiative of the Province of North Brabant, the Municipality of Bergen op Zoom and NV REWIN West-Brabant. http://www.greenchemistrycampus.com

About Biobased Delta

Biobased Delta is the collaboration of businesses, authorities and knowledge institutes in the South West Netherlands. Under the slogan 'Agro meets Chemistry' the Biobased Delta is working on up-grading agro-residuals in bio-based innovations. Biobase-Europe (Ghent-Terneuzen) is also involved and, over time, we want to reinforce the largest chemical cluster in the world, ARRR (Antwerp-Rotterdam-Rhein-Ruhr). This fits in perfectly with European policy that aims to strengthen these regions according to the principal of smart specialization. http://www.biobaseddelta.nl

Please meet Biorizon's team! Monique Wekking, MSc. Nationality: Dutch Function: Business developer Organisation: TNO Education: Organic chemistry, University of Amsterdam Currently working on: Setting up shared research with industrial parties and other relevant associations and stakeholders to convert organic heterogenic municipal waste into building blocks for furanics and bioaromatics. Motivation: I get enthusiastic to bring (competitive) parties together and convince them to collaborate in shared research towards profitable bioaromatics business together. I believe co-creation and a co-operate attitude accelerates such business. Prof. dr. Ludo Diels Nationality: Belgian Education: PhD University of Antwerp (Belgium) Function: Research Leader Working on: Coordination of research strategies. Establishment and coordination of collaborative projects. Prof.dr.ir. Jaap Kiel Nationality: Dutch Education: PhD in Chemical Engineering, University of Twente Function: Programme development manager Biomass Working on: Developing the ECN Biomass R&D programme in close collaboration with industry partners, other R&D institutes and the ECN experts in thermochemical biomass conversion, including the expansion of R&D activities in Horizon 1 of Biorizon. Motivation: I enjoy to contribute to shaping the biobased economy jointly with industry and other organisations by developing innovative sustainable technologies and support their market implementation. Ing. Joop Groen MBA Nationality: Dutch Education: Chemical Technology & MBA. Function: Manager New Business Development. Organisation: TNO Working on: The growth of Biorizon and especially contracting industrial partners as well as additional RTO’s to strengthen the program, gain critical mass and increase shared intelligence. Motivation: Working together closely with industry and other organisations, pushing the limits of new innovative sustainable technology and 'making it happen', so to convert new technologies into profitable business for the participating companies! Dr. ir. Karolien Vanbroekhoven Nationality: Belgium Education: PhD in Applied Biotechnology, KULeuven Function: Program Manager BioEconomy Working on: Use of sustainable resources like biomass, algae, carbon dioxide replacing fossil ones and developing biotech processes using these resources as well as intensify them by integration of separation and conversion, by reusing the biocatalyst and by overall optimization of the process efficiency. Motivation: Looking to the great opportunities and challenges in the bioeconomy, I get excited about the new, sustainable world ahead of us and the small contribution I can make to that! Connecting different people, with different backgrounds and realizing real innovations, that’s what makes my heart beats faster. Dr. ir. Jan Harm Urbanus Nationality: Dutch Education: PhD in Bioprocess Engineering Function: Scientific Manager Organisation: TNO Working on: In horizon 3 (conversion of sugars into aromatics), TNO is developing a bench-scale setup for the conversion of sugars into furanics and we're exploring the potential of transforming furans into aromatics, both in terms of IP and techno-economic viability. In addition, TNO is talking to industries about their interest in Biorizon. My role is to connect these two worlds and create a very interesting program, geared toward implementation of bio-aromatic value chains. Motivation: I have a passion to connect people and excellent science, creating an environment of energy and drive to promote, enhance and accelerate the implementation of sustainable value chains. Ir. Roger Blokland, MBA Nationality: Dutch Function: Senior Business developer Organization: TNO Education: MSc Chem Eng, Delft University of Technology & MBA, RSM Erasmus University. Currently working on: Finding enthusiastic partners to achieve our goal of realizing a commercial production unit for biobased aromatics by 2025. For this goal Shared Research Center Biorizon is interested to talk to suppliers of waste biobased feedstock, new users of biobased aromatic compounds and other potential stakeholders such as financiers, support & funding organizations, engineering & licensing companies, etc. Motivation: Foremost I am very motivated by helping to realize a sustainable chemical industry and the ability to make a positive contribution to a fully renewable and sustainable society through the impact of my work. I really enjoy working in this complicated, cutting edge scientific landscape and at the same time manage the overall Biorizon business goals and creating a win-win for all our stakeholders. Drs. Dennis van der Pas Nationality: Dutch Function: Projectmanager / Manager Green Chemistry Campus. Education: Tilburg University, economics. Currently working on: Operations manager for the Green Chemistry Campus, regional coordinator in the European project Chemical Regions for Resource Efficiency and Horizon2020. Motivation: Build new combinations in a cross sector and cross discipline world, bringing together the triple helix partners and interests. Drs. Emke Mol Nationality: Dutch Function: Marketing & Communication Green Chemistry Campus & Biorizon. Education: Tilburg University, Communication- & Information sciences. Currently working on: public relations, stakeholder management and event coordination. Motivation: Contribute to a more sustainable world by creating awareness and interest from stakeholders and the media for biobased developments at the Green Chemistry Campus and Biorizon. Motto: Love it, beat it or leave it: love what you do and do what you love! Ir. Roel Vleeschouwers Nationality: Belgian Education: MSc Biochemical Engineering Function: Business Development Manager Working on: My main activities are related to bringing the Biorizon technological developments towards the industry. This implies the valorisation of the expertise and know-how in contract research and collaborative projects and the transfer of our developments to the industry within the structure of Biorizon. In this sense also the broadening of the Biorizon community is one of the major goals. Motivation: To increase the impact of Biorizon in the context of the biobased economy and in close collaboration with relevant industrial partners. Dr. ir. Paul Könst Nationality: Dutch Education: PhD degree in Organic Chemistry – Biocatalysis from Wageningen University Function: Scientist Organisation: TNO Working on: Characterization and optimization of the chemistry behind the envisioned route towards bioaromatics. Motivation: I enjoy working with people from different disciplines on solutions that matter to society. Ir. Berend Vreugdenhil Nationality: Dutch Education: M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering Function: Innovation manager gasification Working on: Gasification as a platform to convert biomass into valuable products, such as Green Gas, fuels and chemicals. These routes are exciting and often interlinked. Motivation: Sustainability is key for the continuing development of the Netherlands, Europe and our planet. Sustainable routes based on gasification are fun, new and the right combination of engineering and chemistry. Dr. Johan van Groenestijn Nationality: Netherlands Education: Environmental Technology (PhD) Function: Scientist Organisation: TNO Working on: Development of production processes for the biobased economy (lignocellulose pretreatment, furanics). Motivation: Create technically and economically feasible processes with impact. Motto: The best way to predict the future is to create the future yourself. Dr. Heleen de Wever Nationality: Belgian Education: PhD in Applied Biological Sciences, Catholic University Leuven Function: Project Manager Biotechnology Working on: Bioprocess intensification, valorization of biomass in a biorefinery approach, and CO2-to-product bioconversions Motivation: Develop industrial biotech showcases relevant for the biobased economy, Demonstrate the benefits of integrated separation and conversion for bioprocesses, Bring innovations to a higher level in collaborative projects with academia and/or industry Dr. Paul de Wild Nationality: Dutch Education: PhD in Chemistry University of Groningen Function: Research scientist biorefinery Working on: Development of innovative thermochemical conversion, of biomass, including product recovery and down-stream processing for value-added chemicals, performance materials and energy applications within the framework of the biorefinery approach. The focus is on lignin valorisation because lignin is the major unexploited biopolymer and a rich potential source for renewable aromatics. Motivation: I am eager to contribute to the development of a sustainable society. Biomass is the sole source to replace fossil-based materials in the biobased economy and I will use my expertise and enthusiasm as a chemist to make it happen. Nothing has ever been achieved without passion! Dr. Metin Bulut Nationality: Belgian Education: Bio-engineer in environmental and catalytic technology, PhD. Bio-engineer in catalytic technology. Function: Scientist. Working on: Membrane-based molecular separation technologies for downstream processing of chemical waste and process streams and for process intensified (bio)conversion processes. Motivation: Looking for new exciting opportunities to apply the full potential of membrane technology in the separation and isolation of high value molecules from biomass streams. And to have a contribution in the road to achieve process intensification in sustainable (bio)chemical industries. Ir. Marc Crockatt Nationality: Scottish Education: Organic Chemistry at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland. Function: Technical Lead & Innovator. Organisation: TNO Working on: The conversion of biomass sugars to aromatics via furanics; predominately on the conversion of furanics to aromatics. Motivation: I appreciate the beauty and complex elegance of cyclic systems, and the carbon cycle is one of the most important in life. Being at the forefront of the research, and developing ideas, to solve what is without doubt one of the biggest modern problems not only stimulates me, but gives me an enormous sense of reward. Jaap W. van Hal, Ph.D. Nationality: Dutch Education: Ph.D. in organometallic chemistry. Function: Innovation manager biorefinery. Working on: Developing economically viable, environmentally benign, sustainable biorefinery processes of lignocellulosic and macro-algal biomass using the cascading, total biomass utilisation, valorisation principle. Motivation: Pushing the start button of the first biorefinery plant. Dr. (Pavol) Bodis Nationality: Slovak Education: PhD degree in Physical Chemistry from University of Amsterdam Function: System integrator Organisation: TNO Working on: Designing, building and commissioning of the bi-phasic reactor Motivation: Bringing great ideas and dreams of scientists to reality

Biorizon

Biorizon is a Shared Research Center with a focus on technology development for the production of renewable bulkaromatics (BTX) and functionalized biobased aromatics for performance materials, chemicals & coatings. Biorizon is anticipating the expected growing shortage of aromatics from the petrochemical industry and the widely shared ambition to green the chemical industry. Our goal is to be a leading European Center for (functionalized) biobased aromatics within 3 years and to be in the global top 3 within 5 years. This way the participating companies will get the best results possible! Please note that Biorizon is not related to BioHorizon, EU-funded network of National Contact Points (NCPs) for Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 2. If you are looking for BioHorizon, please go to www.ncp-biohorizon.net Biorizon is a cross-border initiative between TNO, VITO, ECN part of TNO and the Green Chemistry Campus and is part of Biobased Delta. Biorizon is located at the Green Chemistry Campus in Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands, at the heart of industries between Antwerp and Rotterdam. Global leaders in the fields of feedstock, conversion, equipment and end products are invited to join our industry driven Shared Research Center that is based on the open innovation methodology. The industry's need for biobased aromatics Aromatic building blocks represent a very significant share of our today’s building blocks, not only in order to create fuel components, base chemicals or polymers, but also to create polymer additives, colorants, flavors and fragrances. Currently virtually all aromatic building blocks are made from fossil oil that will become scarce. Hence, it is important to develop technology to replace the current aromatic petrochemical based building blocks by alternative feedstocks. Shale gas and shale oil are rapidly emerging as a new feedstock, but will produce mainly light fractions such as ethylene/propylene, and no aromatics in gas-fueled crackers. Given the global challenges that society is facing with respect to CO2 emissions, pollution, global warming and shortage of suitable fossil oil reserves, new biobased production routes need to be realized urgently to address the ecological and economic challenges that humanity and industry are facing. Industry driven Shared Research Center Setting up a sustainable and economically successful commercial scale business, is a major challenge in this field. A significant research effort is needed, more than one single organization can handle. Therefore Biorizon is operated as a Shared Research Center, based on the open innovation methodology, bringing together collective intelligence of various industries, companies and knowledge organizations. The multi-disciplined technological need, as well as the long term roadmap make this effort suitable for shared research, sharing intelligence, investments, risks and workload. We aim to include the global leaders in the fields of feedstock, conversion, equipment and end-products as participants in the Center, as well as SME companies. Ambition: global top 3 within 5 years Our ambition is to be a leading European Center for functionalized biobased aromatics within 3 years and to be in the global top 3 within 5 years. In order to achieve this, we will build up a group of minimum 50 FTE scientists and technologists and grow this team every year, both in size and quality. Resident technologists of the participating companies will work closely together with the core team of VITO, TNO and ECN. This will assure the best results for our partners. The results of Biorizon will allow the partners to commercialize biobased business successfully. Download the Biorizon flyer Biorizon Community Biorizon aims to be thé reliable source for information on functionalized biobased aromatics and to provide excellent networking opportunities. For partners and companies that want to consider joining our Shared Research Center we've created a community were you can find relevant information concerning functionalized biobased aromatics. >>> JOIN THE BIORIZON COMMUNITY <<<