Sustainable

Chemistry in

Amsterdam

Aart W. Kleyn, University of Amsterdam

Strategic

collaboration

between UvA

and VU

Amsterdam

City of Science

The (new) academic

environment in Chemistry5 Key Research Themes

Systems

Biology

Computational

Chemistry

Synthesis &

CatalysisAnalytical

Chemistry &

Spectroscopy

Molecular

Pharmac.

Sciences/Chemistry

of Life

Strategic considerations

• Create focus and critical mass

• Share world-class infrastructure

• Provide excellent teaching

environment in BSc, MSc and PhD

education, jointly for both

universities

An illustrative example

Towards BioSolar Cells

Theoretical

Chemistry

Synthetic

Chemistry

Biophysics

Systems Biology CatalysisOrganic

Chemistry

Innovation potential(from an academic perspective)

• Dedicated, innovative research programs

in sustainable chemistry & energy

• Strong research infrastructure

Synthesis, Analysis, Computational

• Scientific talent± 100 PhD-level researchers

± 50 MSc students/year

± 30 PhD students/year

Innovation in education

The traditional academic

environment in ChemistryEducation:

local

‘Novel’

interactions

Research:

global

Novel Interactions

• Spin offs

•••

Faculty of ScienceVan ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences

Spin offs: a focus on Catalysis

Homogeneous and

supramolecular

catalysis

Heterogeneous

catalysis and

sustainable chemistry

Biocatalysis Organocatalysis

Knowledge valorisation –

Yellow Diesel BVYellow Diesel was founded in 2007

by Gadi Rothenberg and the UvA

Holding B.V., the holding company

of the University of Amsterdam.

We design new biodiesel processes

based on heterogeneous catalysis.

The company employs four people

and is based in SciencePark

Amsterdam.

Our IP is based on understanding

the reactions on the catalyst

surface.

www.yellowdiesel.com

Novel Interactions

• Spin offs

• Consulting and industrially supported

research, PPP’s

••

Novel Interactions

• Spin offs

• Consulting and industrially supported

research

• Hosting partners

•

Novel Interactions

• Spin offs

• Consulting and industrially supported

research

• Hosting partners

• Focused research institute with industry on

catalysis

Faculty of ScienceVan ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences

Chemistry review UvA 10-09-2010

Future perspectives Catalysis

Homogeneous and

supramolecular

catalysis

Heterogeneous

catalysis and

sustainable chemistry

New labs!

Faculty of ScienceVan ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences

Ambition: Catalysis

Homogeneous and

supramolecular

catalysis

Heterogeneous

catalysis and

sustainable chemistry

Biocatalysis Organocatalysis

Catalysis Center of excellence

Sustainable Chemistry in Amsterdam: a

wealth of opportunities