CSF-ETs 04Jul11 3 LGardossi(Biotech)ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/pdf/workshops/leadership_in... · Industrial Biotechnology: the concept feedstock I. Use microorganisms or components

Rapporteur

Prof. Lucia GardossiDepartment of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

University of Trieste

Brussels July 4, 2011Lucia Gardossi

Industrial BiotechnologyIndustrial Biotechnology

Lucia Gardossi

Industrial Biotechnology: the concept

feedstock

I. Use microorganisms or components of micro-organisms like enzymes in industrial processing

Industrial Biotechnology Industrial Biotechnology


II. Enables chemical and other industrial sectors (e.g. pharmaceutical, paper, cosmetics, textiles, polymers, energy, etc) to manufacture novel, competitive and greener products.


Lucia Gardossi



II. Enables chemical and other industrial sectors (e.g. pharmaceutical, paper, cosmetics, textiles, polymers, energy, etc) to manufacture novel, competitive and greener products.

III. Allows for an increasing use of renewable resources as raw materials for the industry in bio-refineries and the replacement of oil refineries


Lucia Gardossi


Biomasses,

Renewable

raw-materials

Fuels, Chemicals, Drugs, Materials

The bio-refinery concept

Bio-trasformation


Industrial Biotechnology is integrated with:

•Plant biotechnology providing terrestrial feedstock to industry

•Marine biotechnology exploring aquatic environments for innovative biotechnology approaches and feedstock

•Environmental biotechnology providing environmental services and technologies

•Health biotechnology such as new drugs, diagnostic tools

•Emerging trends such as synthetic biology, nano-biotechnology, bioinformatics

Lucia Gardossi


IB Research and Innovation for a Green Bio-Economy

(Brussels, 7th September 2010)

Aim:

Identify key challenges in the domain of

Industrial Biotechnology for future EU research and innovation priorities

Lucia Gardossi


IB Research and Innovation for a Green Bio-Economy: Questions

1. What is your assessment of the state-of-the-art of Industrial Biotechnology in the EU/world?

2. How can Industrial Biotechnology contribute to addressing Grand Challenges?

3. Based on Questions 1 and 2, what should be the research and innovation priorities for Industrial Biotechnology?

4. What are the "research and innovation mechanisms" required to support the vision for Industrial Biotechnology?

Lucia Gardossi


Q 1What is your assessment of the

state-of-the-art of Industrial Biotechnology in the EU/World?

Lucia Gardossi


Q 1: Value chain - Actors

EU world leading industries and world class academia

• producers of enzymes (80 in Europe compared to 20 in the US)

• research centers, SMEs

• enzymes used especially in fine chemical sector

• European firms spent 70% of the estimated $313bn in 2006 on R&D of relevance to biotechnology

• unbalanced geographical distribution throughout EU

Lucia Gardossi


Q 1: Research and Innovation Strengths and Priorities

Effective dialogue between Academia and Industry:• good premises to reduce the gap between fundamental research and industrial application.• working with partners across a broad value chain (agriculture, marine, chemistry, biotechnology) has brought new knowledge to all actors

Main focus is on fine chemistry and high value chemicals:• EU fine-chemistry sector is world leading•Integration of biotech and chemical processes is already a main trend

Bio-refinery concept and bulk products are gaining attention:• replacing fossil-based molecules by integrating chemistry, biotechnology, engineering and energy, with also valorization of co-products

Lucia Gardossi


Q 1: Weaknesses/barriers and possible solutions

Fragmentation:• Broad value chain, fragmented IP and research• EU is characterized by a large number of SMEs with high entry barriersØNeeded clear input from industry on the products which have highest chance to enter the market to focus efforts

High costs of the technology Barriers for overcoming conservatism and to move towards new processes/productsa) large investments for technology developmentb) long entry time - bad for SMEs needing short term revenuesc) uncertainty for investors in terms of technology- and market developmentd) the oil price is fluctuating, thus affecting competitiveness of IB

Feed-stocks.• Scarcity and limited flexibility of optimal raw material

Lucia Gardossi


ØNeeded commercial alliances with biomass rich countries: “importing cheap carbon – exporting expensive carbon” (EU exporter of technology and added value products)

Expected Biomass Trade Routes by 2020Source: The Future of Industrial Biorefineries; World Economic Forum, 2010

:Plant-Oil

:Biomass


Q 1: Opportunities

Creation of new value chains but also accessing existing value chains by:1. Increasing the awareness of industry about IB potentialØ training people in industry

2. Making infrastructures available to all actorsØ large scale fermentation capacityØ easier access to enzymes in large scale especially for SMEØ demonstration facilities

a) to further advance products from R&D stageb) to evaluate consequences/risks of up-scaling

and make proof of economic feasibility

3. Providing more examples of successful applications of IB Ø especially for larger volume bio-based chemicals

Lucia Gardossi


Q 1: How does the EU compare with the rest of the world?

EU is global leader in IB especially for fine chemistry applications ØIncreasing competition at international level

Focus and drivers vary according to different geographical factorsØUSA: biofuels, plant genomic, bulk chemicalsØJP: fermentation technology, marine biotech, genome researchØChina and India: applied research on bulk chemicals and biofuels ØChina: newer industrial fermentation techniques and processes

The EU system should take advantage of its inherent points of strength for supporting and coordinating efforts towards the construction of robust value chains.

Lucia Gardossi


Q 2 + Q3: How can Industrial Biotechnology contribute to addressing Grand Challenges?

What should be the research and innovation priorities for Industrial Biotechnology?

Challenges defined for Theme 2 of FP7: 1) Primary production mitigating and adapting to climate change2) Greening the industry3) Food security and safety for Europe and beyond4) A socially inclusive and healthy Europe5) Oceans for the future

Further Challenges to be added:Ø“Water”Ø Resource security (e.g. energy, minerals, metals) beyond food security

Lucia Gardossi


Q 2 + Q3: IB addressing the key challengesPrimary production mitigating and adapting to climate change

IB contribution: in a broad sense replacing petrochemical feedstocks with bio-based raw materials(CO2 fixed by plants/algae with help of the sun)

Emissions: the integration of carbon capture technologies offers possibilities to operate plants with zero or even negative Green House Gas balance

IB raw materials: currently based on sugar/starch, but shifting to second generation feedstocks (e.g. stems/wood). Bio-waste as a raw material also alleviates food conflict and soil competition issue

Re-use of products and recycling: IB can provide products that are amenable to re-use, recycle or biodegradation.

Lucia Gardossi


Q 2 + Q3: IB addressing the key challengesGreening the industry

Ø IB methodologiesenables the replacement of high

energy processes by Bio-catalysts(mild conditions and low environmental impact, “green

chemistry”)

Ø Fermentation technologies are based on water and operate under mild conditions as well.

Lucia Gardossi


Q 2 + Q3: IB addressing the key challengesSocial inclusive and healthy Europe

Contribution of IB tools:

• Provides nutritional ingredients, improve diagnostics, create new drugs

• Make active and complex chemical compounds at an affordable price in a society that has an increasing health care cost structure

• Operate sustainably with lower pollution and safer work environments

• Farmers can create value from agricultural biomass that is currently wasted

•The use of biobased raw materials in biorefineries can create jobs in rural and coastal areas

Lucia Gardossi


Q 2+Q3: IB addressing the key challengesFood security and safety for EU and beyond

IB products :• Add nutritional value to food • Are of aid for preserving food better and for diagnosing whether foodstuffs are still safe to consume

To be explored: • Exploitation of unconventional sources of protein, micro-nutrients derived from residual biomass or algae

Lucia Gardossi


Q 2+Q3: IB addressing the key challengesOceans for the future

Lucia Gardossi


•Marine environments provide biodiversity for production of both existing and new products

•Algae provides the potential to develop new and efficient production systems using CO2 as a feedstock

Q 2 + Q3: IB addressing the key challengesTechnological priorities

From petro- to bio-refineries:Ø Using IB in conjunction with chemistry and energy: integration

for efficient separation of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, proteins

ØMaking biobased products competitive: same or better performance and cost prices comparable to petro-based products.

Ø Convert some existing platform chemicals to new end-products

Ø Producing new products that are not available via petro-based chemistry

Lucia Gardossi


Q 2 + Q3: IB addressing the key challengesActions needed

Policy actions:Ø Incentives to stimulate the use of biomass in

biorefineries other than for energy generation

Ø Bridging different productive sectors (agriculture, biotechnology, chemistry, energy, etc) and integration with established industries, e.g. chemical, pulp and paper, etc.

Lucia Gardossi


Q4: What are the "research and innovation mechanisms" required to the vision for Industrial

Biotechnology?

A holistic integrated approach towards IB: Ø Reinforcing the alignment of European and National policies

Main problems to be addressed:Ø Gap between research and implementationØ Time to transform research results into marketable productsØ Biorefineries are not an established concept to the chemical/energy sector. They are considered as high risk, which prevents large CAPEX expenses

Lucia Gardossi


Q4: mechanisms for solutionsovercoming the “death valley”

• Financing• Training• Market

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Q4: Financing mechanisms

Public Private Parnerships:• Academic/industry/government interactions and new funding schemes

with Public and Private Partnerships

• Positive examples of PPPs for IB in several Member States

Clusters (long term-multinational initiatives):• Already demonstrated effectiveness in fostering penetration of IB into

industry and in shortening “Time to Market”

• Involve all actors along the value chains

• Promotes the dialogue among sectors

• Problems are faced globally and opportunities emerge

Lucia Gardossi



Shared infrastructures: Ø Proof of concept and demonstration projects

Ø for attracting investors

Ø Public support to reduce financial risks

Ø Shared large scale infrastructures (e.g: multipurpose pilot and demo-facilities)

Ø Improving access to infrastructures by supporting the mature industries for transforming existing facilities into biorefineries.

Ø Leveraging Local, Regional, National and EU level

Lucia Gardossi



Supporting SMEs: Ø Special stimuli for the many SMEs that are at the forefront of biotechnology Ø Improving capital access is a priority Ø Supporting networking between large firms and SMEs, to enable SMEs to access near-term revenues

Specific funding schemes: Ø SMEs-academia-industry cooperation throughout the value chainØ End users involvement in projects is crucialØ Fundamental research to be supported for visionary challenging/highly visible projects involving excellence throughout the international scientific community (NoE)

Lucia Gardossi


Q4: Training and human resources

Education and Mobility:Ø Education at all levels is the highest priority in order to be competitive and attractive ØMobility of academic lead scientists towards SMEs and industry, and backwards, should be promoted for implementing specific research/technologies.

Promotion of Technology transfer:Ø International exchange of graduates and strong international alliancesØWorkshops and courses for industrial operators as well as increasing the mobility (of both young and senior researchers) between academia and industry in both directions Ø Supporting SMEs creation by training young scientists in management, finances,

Lucia Gardossi


Q4: Market

Stimulating Market demand for bio-based products: Ø Standards, public procurementØ Focus on global customers (e.g. fastest growing market)

Public acceptance: Ø Safety and risk assessmentsØ Increasing public awareness, NGO involvement is important

Regulatory actionsØ Facilitating IPR for the benefit of SMEs and research communityØ Contribution to environmental technologies and REACH* implementationØ There are already policy available for biofuels. They are also needed for other sectors (bulk and fine chemicals) which are facing strong competition worldwide.

*Regulation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of ChemicalsLucia Gardossi


Acknowledgements

Emmanuel KOUKIOS Dirk CARREZLucia GARDOSSIRajani HATTI-KAULMarcel JASPARSManfred KIRCHERKornel KOVACSRolandas MESKYSMilan POLAKOVICNickie SPILERoland WOHLGEMUTHMarcel WUBBOLTSAlfredo AGUILAR ROMANILLOSMaria FERNANDEZ GUTIERREZEveline LECOQ

IB Research and Innovation for a Green Bio-Economy Brussels September 7th, 2010

Acknowledgements

KOUKIOS Emmanuel Nat. Tech. Univ. AthensCARREZ Dirk EuropabioGARDOSSI Lucia Universita degli Studi di TriesteHATTI-KAUL Rajani University of LundJASPARS Marcel University of AberdeenKIRCHER Manfred Evonik IndustriesKOVACS Kornel University of SzegedMESKYS Rolandas Institute of Biochemistry, LithuaniaPOLAKOVC Milan Slovak University of TechnologySPILE Nickie NovozymesWOHLGEMUTH Roland Sigma-AldrichWUBBOLTS Marcel SM Innovation CenterAGUILAR ROMANILLOS Alfredo European CommissionFERNANDEZ GUTIERREZ Maria European CommissionLECOQ Eveline European Commission

IB Research and Innovation for a Green Bio-Economy Brussels September 7th, 2010

Lucia Gardossi

Regulation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It entered into force on 1st June 2007 to streamline and improve the former legislative framework on chemicals of the European Union (EU). REACH places greater responsibility on industry to manage the risks that chemicals may pose to the health and the environment.In principle REACH applies to all chemicals: not only chemicals used in industrial processes but also in our day-to-day life, for example in cleaning products, paints as well as in articles such as clothes, furniture and electrical appliances. Objectives The aims of REACH are to: Improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals Enhance the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry, a key sector for the economy of the EU Promote alternative methods for the assessment of hazards of substances Ensure the free circulation of substances on the internal market of the European Union

• Public procurement

• Public procurement generally is an important sector of the economy. In Europe, public procurement accounts for 16.3% of the Community GDP.[4]

• Green public procurement

• In Green public procurement (GPP), contracting authorities and entitiestake environmental issues into account when tendering for goods or services. The goal is to reduce the impact of the procurement on human health and the environment.[5]

• In the European Union, the Commission has adopted its Communication on public procurement for a better environment, where proposes apolitical target of 50 % Green public procurement to be reached by the Member States by the year 2010

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CSF-ETs 04Jul11 3 LGardossi(Biotech)ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/pdf/workshops/leadership_in... · Industrial Biotechnology: the concept feedstock I. Use microorganisms or components