Chemistry is everywhere. It is in our everyday consumer products. At the same time, it lies at the heart of some of the world’s present-day challenges. To act on climate change and sustainability challenges, the Dutch government, industry and scientists have joined forces to head to a better future.

Since 2016, the Advanced Research Center Chemical Building Blocks Consortium (ARC CBBC) has been bringing industry and academia together in a joined research program. Sharing a common vision of sustainability, our new generation of scientific talent aims to build the chemistry for the future.

We have the pleasure to hereby invite you to the Reinventing Chemistry Together symposium organized to commemorate the consortium’s first five-year anniversary. Due to the COVID-19 regulations, the symposium will be broadcasted online from the NBC Conference Center in Nieuwegein.

About ARC CBBC

In the Advanced Research Center Chemical Building Blocks Consortium (ARC CBBC), founded in 2016, the companies AkzoNobel, BASF, Nouryon and Shell and the universities of Eindhoven, Groningen and Utrecht are working with the support of the Dutch government and scientists from other academic institutions on far-reaching research to find solutions to counteract greenhouse gas emissions and create a more sustainable and circular society.

Program

Confirmed speakers include Mona Keijzer, State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Jan Peter Balkenende, Chairman Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition and Chairman Major Alliance, Frank Heemskerk, Secretary General at European Round Table for Industry, Matthias Beller, Director Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse, Klaas Kruithof, Chief Technology Officer, AkzoNobel  Dirk Smit, Vice President Research Strategy and Chief Scientist, ‎Shell, Jörg Unger, Senior Vice President Corporate Technology & Operational Excellence, BASF.

The program is still provisional. Registered attendees will receive the full program in the week prior to the event.

Reinventing Chemistry Together - How to develop sustainable chemistry for the future

Moderator Joost Hoebink

13:00 – 15:00 Part 1. Perspectives to develop sustainable chemistry for the future

Opening and welcome

• Bert Weckhuysen, Scientific Director of ARC CBBC

• Ben Feringa, Chair of the Executive Board of ARC CBBC

Collaborative innovation in a time of change

• Dirk Smit, Vice President Research Strategy and Chief Scientist, ‎Shell
• Klaas Kruithof, Chief Technology Officer, AkzoNobel
• Jörg Unger, Senior Vice President Corporate Technology & Operational Excellence, BASF

Alliances to execute the innovation agenda

• Jan Peter Balkenende, Chairman Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition and Chairman Major Alliance

Academic and industry perspectives on the chemical value chain to reinvent chemistry

• Frank Heemskerk, Secretary General at European Round Table for Industry

• Matthias Beller, Director Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of ARC CBBC

Reinventing chemistry together

• Mona Keijzer, State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy

• Marjan Oudeman, Chair of the Supervisory Board of ARC CBBC

Catalysis as a key enabler for sustainable chemistry

• Robert Terörde, Senior Research Manager Catalysis, BASF

• Lotte Metz, PhD Candidate, University of Amsterdam

Methane as chemical feedstock rather than fuel

• Sander van Bavel, Program Lead Methane-to-Products, Shell

• Morteza Hadian, PhD Candidate, Eindhoven University of Technology

New and alternative functional materials and smart functionalities

• André van Linden, Director Coatings Technology, AkzoNobel

• Sarina Maβman, PhD Candidate, University of Groningen

15:15 – 17:15 Part 2. Collaboration for sustainable chemistry for the future

Introduction

• Bert Weckhuysen, Scientific Director of ARC CBBC

Green transformations and materials

How alternative solvents and building blocks can create climate-friendly, sustainable and responsive materials from which to make our everyday products.

• Ben Feringa, Program Director Coatings, ARC CBBC

• George Hermens, PhD Candidate, University of Groningen

• Linda Eijsink, PhD Candidate, University of Groningen

• Lukas Wolzak, PhD Candidate, University of Amsterdam

• Jitte Flapper, Technology Manager, AkzoNobel

• Derk Jan van Dijken, Manager Process & Analytical Support, BASF

Using light to understand and turn catalysis upside down

How new catalysts can be designed to create a more sustainable and circular economy.

• Bert Weckhuysen, Program Director Functional Materials & Specialties, ARC CBBC

• Eline Hutter, Assistant Professor, Utrecht University

• Mirjam de Graaf, PhD Candidate, Utrecht University

• Bas Terlingen, PhD Candidate, Utrecht University

• Matteo Monai, Chemical researcher, Utrecht University and Alumnus of ARC CBBC

• Mathieu Ahr, Research Development & Innovation Specialist Nouryon

• Esther Groeneveld, Staff chemist, BASF

From the laboratory to manufacturing plant

How solid catalysts can speed up and steer industrial chemical reactions towards particular products.

• Hans Kuipers, Program Director Energy Carriers, ARC CBBC

• Nikolay Kosinov, Assistant Professor, Eindhoven University of Technology

• Suzan Schoemaker, PhD Candidate, Utrecht University

• Morteza Hadian, PhD Candidate, Eindhoven University of Technology

• Peter Berben, Senior Research Manager Process Catalysts, BASF

• Sander van Bavel, Program Lead Methane-to-Products, Shell