Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin announced the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry jointly with Cefic and EuropaBio at a press conference on July 6. The Platform should help boost industry competitiveness and will promote public/private partnerships in research. Platform participants will develop technology road maps and strategies aimed to guide European research activities in the field of sustainable chemistry.

“The Technology Platform will contribute significantly to the establishment of the European Research Area (ERA), aimed at overcoming the fragmentation of European Research, maximizing synergies and exploiting to the best advantage the tremendous potential of intellectual and scientific resources available in Europe,” said Commissioner Busquin. He thanked Cefic and Europabio for pursuing this initiative, and promised Commission support in its realisation.

Presentations by Commissioner Busquin, Cefic Research and Science Board acting chair Jan Dopper, BASF Managing board member Stefan Marcinowski and Europabio Secretary General Johan Vanhemelrijck kicked off the Platform activities. The event aimed to present the Platform initiators’ expectations and invite stakeholders to join future activities.

The Platform’s organisational structure is outlined in a document published for the event. Financial and administrative support from the Commission is being pursued. One of the first activities of the Platform will be to hold stakeholder meetings during the autumn of 2004. Stakeholders will be asked to participate in developing a shared vision for the Platform by early 2005, and setting up a strategic research agenda by the end of 2005. The agenda will include technology road maps in priority areas described in the launch document.

Enhancing chemistry research in Europe Busquin described research as “the primary source of innovation in the knowledge-intensive chemical industry that drives the sector forward.” He acknowledged the impressive track record of the Chemical Industry in developing new products and processes and its pivotal role supporting innovation throughout European manufacturing industry. He also outlined the global challenges facing the industry in Europe that made the Platform so strategically important.

The Technology Platform is expected to enhance the co-ordination of collaborative public-private R&D from multiple funding sources in the prioritised technology areas. For example, the Technology Platform will be a main feed for the chemical sciences into the Commission’s detailed planning for the next Research Framework Programme (FP7) in 2005. The Platform also has the potential to mobilise additional and dedicated funds from FP7 in the form of new instruments such as Joint European Technology Initiatives (JETIs).

The announcement was met by strong support from the academic, government, scientific and industry sectors. “The technology platform is a necessity for well balanced development,” said Mr Theo van Bellegem, senior policy coordinator in the Dutch Ministry of Housing and Environment. He urged stakeholders to grasp this opportunity to improve resource efficiency and gain new markets. He hoped the Platform would be able to ensure cooperation between initiatives at European and national level to produce a European chemistry industry that was “clean, clever and competitive."

Prof. Dr. Claudine Buess of the Université Libre de Bruxelles spoke on behalf of the Federation of European Chemical Societies (FECS) and welcomed the initiative. “Chemistry can meet society’s problems,” she stated. She felt the Platform would boost chemistry R&D and improve the image of chemistry in the wider community.

Dr. Tom Fejjtel of Procter & Gamble spoke on behalf of the International Association for Soaps, detergents and maintenance products (AISE) – a major consumer of chemical products. He underlined that innovation in materials, electronics and many other sectors were only made possible by advances in chemistry. “Effective mobilisation of resources and collaboration between committed stakeholders in the Platform will accelerate research and growth,” he believed.

A launch document developed by Cefic and EuropaBio, in consultation with the European Commission, shows the timeliness of the Platform, following the conclusions of a recent Cefic study “Horizon 2015”. The study outlined the risk to the competitiveness of the European chemical industry, and highlighted innovation as a main driver for the sector’s future success.

The document, which lays the groundwork for stakeholder discussions and future work, provides a visionary outlook for the industry’s research and innovation requirements. It also assesses the platform’s role in aligning industry activities with EU policy actions such as the Environmental Technologies Action Plan.

The Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry will provide a multi-stakeholder forum to develop a European strategic research agenda that will include collaborative research in prioritised technology areas. Ultimately, the objective is to increase the attractiveness of investments in chemical R&D and innovation in Europe.

Three technology sub-platforms will be featured: industrial biotechnology, materials technology and reaction & process design. The platform will also address innovation barriers and constraints such as issues of skill resources, public acceptance and access to risk capital. Research on health, safety and environmental aspects including alternatives to animal testing will also be part of the scope.

The launch document for the Technology Platform can be downloaded from this website. To obtain further information and become involved with the Technology Platform please contact Frank Agterberg at Cefic Research & Science.

The text of Commissioner Busquin’s speech (in French) can be down loaded here.