2020 Programme overview

OPENING

How to advance sustainability and bioeconomy as part of a post-Covid green recovery?

Welcome address:

• Agnes Borg, Director, Industrial Biotechnology, EuropaBio

Keynote speakers:

• Susanne Pedersen, Assistant Director-General and Head of Investment, Policy Solutions Division, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)
• Kerstin Jorna, Director-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission
• Sally Uren OBE, Chief Executive, Forum for the Future

Further reading tips for this session:

• More information about the European Green Deal can be found here
• Details on the EC’s industrial strategy are available here 
• The circular economy action plan under the European Green Deal: more details here
• Release, Sept 2020, on the EU’s first Strategic Foresight Report: general information on the process can be found here and the report can be consulted here (Note: Reference to the bio-based value chains and the bio-based industry on pages 24–25).
• EuropaBio position paper on the Farm to Fork Strategy: click here
• News, Oct 1, in the European Biotechnology Magazine: EIB and EC launch circular bioeconomy fund
• GGGI Technical Report: Achieving Green Growth and Climate Action Post-COVID-19: read more details in this PDF document
• Forum for the Future on how a more resilient sustainable future is achievable: more details here

GREEN. CIRCULAR. SUSTAINABLE.

The post-COVID future from an industry perspective (C-suite panel)

Moderation:

• Susanne Pedersen, Assistant Director-General Head of Investment and Policy Solutions Division, Global Green Growth Institute

Panelists:

• Claus Crone Fuglsang, Chief Science Officer (CSO) & Executive Vice President, Research & Development, Novozymes 
• Sally Uren OBE, Chief Executive, Forum for the Future 
• Stefan Jennewein, CEO, Jennewein Biotechnologie GmbH (now part Chr. Hansen)
• Regina Hecker, Partner, Blue Horizon Ventures
• Jim Laird, CEO, 3F BIO

Further reading tips for this session:

• More details on Novozymes’ company strategy “Better business with biology”
• Read more on the Protein Challenge 2040, launched by Forum of the Future and its activities in the Food area
• News, Sept 25, European Biotechnology Magazine: Mosa Meat NV bags US$55m financing led by Blue Horizon Ventures
• Press release, Sept 23: Jennewein Biotechnologie GmbH and Chr. Hansen A/S to join forces in high-growth Human Milk Oligosaccharides market
• Flagship grant awarded to 3F BIO in 2019 to lead PLENTITUDE project: 3F BIO secures €17m backing from European Commission for first integrated bio-based protein biorefinery

GREEN. CIRCULAR. SUSTAINABLE.

Future on biotech innovation: Why does Europe need modern biotechnology?

Co-organised with:

Moderation:

• Aleš Pečinka, Group leader, Institute of  Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic

Speakers:

• Irina Borodina, Professor, The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark and CTO, BioPhero ApS
• René Custers, Regulatory & Responsible Research Manager, VIB
• Carsten Hjort, Senior Science Director, Novozymes

Further reading tips for this session:

• European Parliament Scientific Foresight, April 23:  What if CRISPR became a standard breeding technique?
• More details on EuropaBio’s perspective on genome editing
• Article, Science Magazine, Sept 11: The latest round in the CRISPR patent battle has an apparent victor, but the fight continues
• Article, Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Sept 30: ‘Brussels Effect’: Europe’s CRISPR crop rules may have ‘costly’ international economic impacts
• Press release, June 10, The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability: EUR 100 million support to create green solutions and products for the benefit of society

DIGITAL START-UP FORUM

Focus on green, sustainable  and circular innovation

Start-up pitches with:

• Juan Medina, CEO, Kaffe Bueno
• Stan Theophilou, Director and Chief Scientist, BlueGene Technologies
• Stephanie Brooking, Head of Product Management, Evonetix
• Borja Torres, CEO, Xtrem Biotech
• Oh-Jin Park, Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer, Lignum

Jury members: 

• Cindy Gerhardt, Director, Planet B.io & Campus Development Director for Biotech Campus Delft, DSM 
• Michael Krel, Partner, Sofinnova Partners
• Rob van der Meij, Senior Investment Manager, Capricorn Partners
• Joseph Zhou,  Managing Partner, Bits x Bites

Start-up Forum Partners:

Further reading tips for this session:

• See the DSM profile in the EFIB stakeholder guide on bio-innovation and discover more details about Planet B.io in an interview with Cindy Gerhardt, DSM: Planet B.io: All you need to scale up your Industrial Biotech solution
• Read more on the Digital Start-up Forum @EFIB here and explore the profiles of Kaffe Bueno, Xtrem Biotech, Evonetix, BlueGene Technologies and Lignum
• Press release, June 22, Givaudan about its new partnership with Kaffe Bueno: Givaudan launches Koffee’Up™, a new sustainable beauty elixir crafted from upcycled Arabica coffee
• Press release, Sept 9, Evonetix: Evonetix and Analog Devices Collaborate on Third-Generation DNA Synthesis Platform
• Press release, July 2, on new activities within BitxBites’ consortium “China Food Tech Hub”: Nestle, Ajinomoto, and Barilla’s Blu1877 Join Growing China Food Tech Hub
• Find more details on the investment strategies and current portfolio of jury members here: Sofinnova Partners and Capricorn Ventures

MEET-UP

Inclusive Bioeconomy

Co-organised with:

Take part in this short survey – The Bioladies Network invites all stakeholders interested in the bioeconomy to share their thoughts on the bioeconomy in advance of the session.

Moderation:

Iris Aquilina Anderson, Founder Bioladies Network, Ambassador BBIA UK

Speakers:

• Dr Brenda Parker, Lecturer in Sustainable Bioprocess Design, Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London

• Dr Agnieszka Krzyzaniak, Market Intelligence Lead – Construction, Arcadis
• Josie Morris, Managing Director; Shareholder of The Wool Packaging Company Limited
• Angela Morris Angela Morris BA Hons, MA, MInstPkg, FRSA; CEO & Founder of The Wool Packaging Company
• Dr Chris Holland, Researcher and Senior Lecturer, Department Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Sheffield
• Jennifer Lewis, Executive Director, International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA) & Director of Byardbridge Consultancy Ltd

FOOD, FEED & NUTRITION

Digital Start-up Forum

Start-up pitches from:

• Cornelia Habacher, CEO, Rebel Meat
• Laura Vasselin, Partnership Manager, Arbiom
• Kirstin Knufmann, CEO, PureRaw
• Christopher Kong, Co-founder, Better Nature

Further reading tips for this session:

• News, Oct 2, Better Nature: Interview with vegan pizza brand one planet pizza about the collaboration with Nature Better
• News, Aug 24: Rebel Meat is among the Top 10 finalist of start-up initiative greenstart, please find more details here (in German only) 
• Press release, June 20: Arbiom Study Shows SylPro® Protein Ingredient for Use in Food Applications
• Learn more about the EIT Food Accelerator Network and see more news within the EIT Food Commnunity here
• Press release, Sept 24: BioInnovation Institute partners with eight international VCs
• Explore the start-up profiles of Rebel Meat, Arbiom, PureRaw and Better Nature in our Digital Start-up Forum @EFIB and vote for the most innovative start-up here

FOOD, FEED & NUTRITION

Alternative Protein Market Insights

Moderation: 

• Albrecht Wolfmeyer, Head of ProVeg Incubator

Speakers:

• Belgin  van Dongen-Köse,  European Segment Leader for Renewability and Enrichment,   Cargill
• Jo Raven, Senior Manager Engagements, FAIRR Initiative
• Will van den Tweel, Director, Those Vegan Cowboys
• Paul Hudman, Technical Director, 3F BIO
• Markus Klinger, Head of Protein Ingredients Venture, Novozymes (panelist)

Further reading tips for this session:

• Blog, Oct 5, ProVeg Incubator: Top 10 tips for launching a food start-up 
• More details on the FAIRR initiative’s Sustainable Proteins Hub
• Please find here further information on Cargill’s activities in the plant-based protein area 
• News, June 3, flanders.bio: Those Vegan Cowboys: on a mission to make plant-based dairy successors
• Details on the campaign ” search for the silver spore” launched by Those Vegan Cowboys end of September
• News, Oct 5, Vegnews: Vegan Cowboys will pay $2.9m to turn grass into vegan milk
• More details on the GFI’s guide to commerzialisation opportunities in alternative proteins can be found here

FOOD, FEED & NUTRITION

Cultured animal products: Manufacturing insights

Chair:

• Gerrit Suhlmann, Bright Green Partners

Speakers:

• Blake Byrne, Business Innovation Specialist, The Good Food Institute
• Krijn de Nood, CEO, Meatable
• Sara Oliveira, Food Processing and Nutrition Group, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory
• Panagiotis Daskaleros, DG SANTE, Food processing technologies and novel foods Unit, European Commission
• Wolfgang Gelbmann, Senior Scientific Officer, Nutrition Unit, EFSA

Further reading tips for this session:

• Background story on EFIB topic page on Food, Feed & Nutrition: “Upscaling in the race to cultured meat” 
• More details on the latest AT Kearney report: How will meat alternatives disrupt the agricultural and food industry
• Please find here details on The Good Food Institute’s overview and mind map of the plant-based meat industry
• Article, July 20, Nature Food review on cultured meat and related upscaling/market challenges

FOOD, FEED & NUTRITION

Focus on novel ingredients

Chair & Introduction:

• Oliver May, Corporate Scientist Biocatalysis, DSM

Further speakers: 

• Gerit Tolborg CEO & Founder, Chromologics
• David Brandes, Co-Founder, Peace of Meat
• Jeroen van Dorp, Business Development Manager, Chaincraft
• Mauricio Agudelo, CEO, Bialtec

Hosted by:

Further reading tips for this session:

• See an overview of DSM’s activities in the EFIB stakeholder profile on bio-based innovation
• Explore more background on the activities of Chromologics, ChainCraft, Bialtec and Peace of Meat in our Digital Start-up Forum @EFIB and vote for the most innovative start-up here

FOOD, FEED & NUTRITION

Cellular agriculture, next-gen fermentation and plant-based innovation 

Chair & Introduction:

• Sandrine Lauret, Policy Manager, European Alliance for Plant-based Food (EAPF)

Speakers:

• Nate Crosser, Startup Growth Specialist, The Good Food Institute
• Georg Schirrmacher, CEO, EIT Food CLC GmbH – “New food system for Europe – Innovation for sustainable growth”
• Thomas Jonas, CEO , Nature’s Fynd, US
• Eben Bayer, CEO, Atlast Food Company, US
• Paul Kollesoff, General Manager & Co-Founder, The Urgent Company, US

Further reading tips for this session:

• News, Sept 29, Vegconomist: European Alliance for Plant-based Foods is Launched, Calling For EU to Focus on Plant-Based Foods
• Report release, Sept 17, The Good Food Institute: GFI highlights the potential impact of fermentation for alternative protein production in its new deep-dive analysis
• Learn more about the EIT Food Accelerator Network and see more news within the EIT Food Commnunity here

MATERIALS & PACKAGING

The role of bioplastics in a circular economy

Chair:

• Kevin O’Connor, Director, BiOrbic, SFI Bioeconomy Research Centre,
  University College Dublin

Speakers:

• François de Bie, Senior Marketing and Supply Chain Director, Total Corbion
• Paolo La Scola, EU Public Affairs, Novamont 
• Nicola Noponen, Technical Advisor, Sector Lead, Chemicals & Polymers, Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB)
• Silvia Maltagliati, Policy Officer, Circular Economy & Biobased Systems Unit, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
• Ronny Hanich, Project Leader, Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT)

Further reading tips for the session:

• News release, Sept 24:  Corbion and Total build the first world-scale PLA production facility in Europe  
• Press release, April 21, Novamont: Mater-Bi – the new grad for extrusion coating now available 
• Find here the 2020 EU Circular Economy Action Plan, with focus on key value chains including plastics and packaging   
• News, June 22: Researchers at Fraunhofer ICT along with Fraunhofer LBF have developed a strategy to chemically recycle post-consumer PLA waste into a lactate ester, more details here
• Background information on the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSP) can be found here 
• Background: EuropaBio comments to the Circular Economy Action Plan 
• Background: EuropaBio #Inspired by Life Case Study on Bioplastics 
• Background: European Bioeconomy Alliance position paper on Green Deal 

MATERIALS & PACKAGING

Innovation examples

Chair:

• Antro Sailä, VP Sustainability and Save Food, World Packaging Organisation

Speakers:

• Åsa Ek, Vice President, Biofoams, Stora Enso
• Stefan Radlmayr, CEO, Silphie Paper GmbH
• Remy Buser, CEO & Co-Founder, Bloom Renewables
• Małgorzata Then, CEO, Biotrem
• Patrick Gerritsen, CEO, bio4pack

Further reading tips for the session:

• Latest news on the World Packaging Organisation can be found here
• News release, Sept 24: Stora Enso starts the production of new-generation formed fiber products free from plastic and PFAS
• News release, Aug 20: Bloom Biorenewables completes €2.9 million seed round 
• News release, Sept 24, Announcement of the German packaging award: Sustainable packaging solution made of silphie fibres
• News release, May 8: bio4pack continues to grow 

INNOVATION CAMPUS

Live pitching & Best-of competition

Jury members: 

• Matthias Slatner, Open Innovation & Business Development, ACIB – Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology
• Cindy Gerhardt, Director, Planet B.io & Campus Development Director for Biotech Campus Delft, DSM

Speakers:

• Iris Cornet, University of Antwerp – “Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates from industrial phenolic effluents”
• África Pardavila, Innovarum, ES – “GreenProtein: hidden resource in beet leaves, the making of the proteins of the future”
• Sylvain Carcelle, Business Development Manager, Biorea – “Continuous airlift fermentation – a new microalgae production technology”
• Christoph Gasser, Co-Founder, UsePAT GmbH –“Ultrasound-Particle Manipulation for in-line Characterization of Cells with Raman and ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy in a Bioreactor”

Please find all abstracts of our Digital Innovation Campus here

Innovation Campus Partner:

FASHION & TEXTILES

Trends and technologies: How to advance innovation and bio-based materials?

Chair:

• Nicole Rawling, Executive Director, Material Innovation Initiative, US

Speakers:

• Adrian Lopez Velarde, Founder, Adriano di Marti, Desserto, Mexico
• Tom Cooke, President, Algenesis, US
• Volker Wagner-Solbach, Procurement and Supply Chain Manager, Amsilk
• Georg Gübitz, Head of Department of Agrobiotechnology,  IFA-Tulln at University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna
• Jan Marek, Technical and Sales Director, INOTEX (panelist)

Further reading tips for this session:

• News article, Aug 22: Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed flip flops made from algae-based, polyurethane materials to help fight plastic pollution around the world
• Please find more background on Amsilk’s biosteel fibers here
• More background information on enzymes in textile processing and Recycling can be found on the project websites of “Resyntex” and “tex2mat”  

DIGITAL START-UP FORUM

Focus on Materials & Bioprocessing

Start-up pitches from:

• Michael Sernatinger, Business Development, Carbonauten GmbH
• Rémi Peyraud, CEO, iMean 
• Ben Dolman, CEO, Holiferm
• Stefan Boersting, Co-Founder & CPO LignoPure 
• Prateek Mahalwar, Co-Founder, Cellulosic Technologies

Further reading tips for this session:

• See the DSM profile in the EFIB stakeholder guide on bio-innovation and discover more details about Planet B.io in an interview with Cindy Gerhardt, DSM: Planet B.io: All you need to scale up your Industrial Biotech solution
• Read more on the Digital Start-up Forum @EFIB here and explore the profiles of Carbonauten GmbH, iMean, Holiferm, Lignopure and Cellulosic Technologies here

Jury members: 

• Laurie Rey, Director, Business, Toulouse White Biotechnology
• Chris Brix Tillegreen, Senior Business Developer, BioInnovation Institute
• Yvette Go, Senior Investment Manager, Capricorn Partners

Start-up Forum Partners:

BIOPROCESSES & TECHNOLOGIES

The future of bioprocesses and biorefineries: How to scale up novel resources

Chair: 

• Iris Lewandowski, Chief Bioeconomy Officer and Professor, University of Hohenheim

Speakers:

• Matthias Slatner, Open Innovation Manager & Business Development, Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB) – “Development of an Open Innovation Platform to connect Biotechnological Research and Business”
• James Gaffey, Co-Director of the Circular Bioeconomy Research Group, Technology Institute, Ireland “BIOSWITCH – supporting brand owner transition to biobased products”
• Wouter van Winden, Principal Scientist Fermentation, DSM – “Zero Concepts in Bioprocessing”
• Stefan Jennewein, CEO, Jennewein Biotechnologies GmbH (now part of Chr. Hansen) – “Update on the most recent company activities”

Further reading tips for this session:

• Press release, Sept 23: Jennewein Biotechnologie GmbH and Chr. Hansen A/S to join forces in high-growth Human Milk Oligosaccharides market
• Please find more details on the BIOSWITCH project here
• Background information on the ACIB open innovation platform can be found here

BIOPROCESSES & TECHNOLOGIES

Markets & technologies: Why industrial biotechnology ticks the boxes?

Chair & Introduction:

• Olivier Rolland, Managing Director, Toulouse White Biotechnology (TWB) 

Further speakers:

• Filippo Giancarlo Martinelli, Global Industrial Partnerships Development, Abolis
• Thierry Audibert, Head of New Business Delopment Fragrances, Givaudan

Further readings tips for this session:

• Please find more details on the recent TWB’s activities in this industrial biotechnology newsletter
• Interview, Aug 6, Il Bioeconomista: An interview with Cyrille Pauthenier, Ceo of French biotech company Abolis 

BIOPROCESSES & TECHNOLOGIES

Lunch Talk: Bioreactors, bioprocess controlling & cell culturing: best practice examples

Chair:

• Filippo Giancarlo Martinelli, Global Industrial Partnerships Development, Abolis

Speakers:

• Sebastian Blum, European Sales Director, m2p-labs GmbH
• Leo Groenewegen, Co-founder & CEO, CellulaREvolution

FINANCING & INVESTING

How to leverage the growing interest in sustainability for bio-based innovation

Chair & Introduction:

• Sara Lovisolo, Group Sustainability Manager, London Stock Exchange Group
  

Speakers: 

• Niklas Von Weymarn, CEO Metsä Spring
• Michael  Brandkamp, General Partner, European Circular Economy Fund  
• Maria Lettini, Executive Director, FAIRR Initiative
• Joseph Zhou, Managing Partner, BitsxBites 

Further reading tips for this session:

• Article, Oct 1: The European Commission (EC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have launched a circular bioeconomy fund with a target size of €250m  
• Please find a comprehensive overview  on the EU taxonomy for sustainable activities here 
• Details about the FAIRR initiative and its activities can be found here
• Press release,  Sept 3, Metsä Spring: Production started at unique textile fibre demo plant
• An overview of the Metsä Spring portfolio is given here

BIOPROCESSES & TECHNOLOGIES

Spotlight on… Resource efficiency & production: How bio-based solutions can provide advantages

Moderation:

• Janin Sameith, Head of Life Sciences and Bioeconomy, Hessen Trade and Invest

Speakers:

• Manfred Kircher, KADIB – Kircher Advice on Bioeconomy & co-coordinator of “BioBall project – How to Realize the Bioeconomy in a Metropolitan Region”
• Birgit Lewandowski, Director Business Development, Electrochaea GmbH

Hosted by:

BIOPROCESSES & TECHNOLOGIES

Spotlight on… Unlocking the potential of industrial yeasts for production of high value consumer products

Speakers:

• John Morrissey, CHASSY Project Coordinator, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, University College Cork, Ireland
• Else-Jasmijn Hassing, PhD candidate, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
• Florian David, CSO & Co-founder, Biopetrolia AB, Gothenburg, Sweden
• Tristan Rossignol, Senior Researcher, MICALIS Institute at INRAE, France
• Verena Siewers, Senior Researcher, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

Hosted by:

FASHION & TEXTILES

Sustainable fashion: Innovation examples & consumer trends

Chair & Introduction: 

• Karin Fleck, Founder & CEO, Vienna Textile Lab

Speakers:

• Noa Ben-Moshe, Head of Marketing, nuuwai
• Robert Bischof, Senior researcher, Pulp- and Biorefinery Technology, Lenzing AG
• Thomas Hahn, Assistant Group Leader & Senior Researcher, Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB)
• Florian Schwendner, COO, NUVI Releaf GmbH

Further reading tips for this session:

• Press release, Sept 22, Lenzing AG: Lenzing launches carbon-zero TENCEL™ branded fibers to kick-start the decarbonization of the textile industry
• More details about Fraunhofer IGB’s activities to develop new insect chitosan and chitosan based functional coatings for yarns and textile fabrics can be found here
• More details on the Digital Start-up Forum profiles of nuuwai and NUVI Releaf

CLOSING | GREEN. CIRCULAR. SUSTAINABLE

How can industry help drive the SDG agenda forward? (Best practices)

Chair:

• Sarah Hickingbottom, CEO, BioVale

Speakers: 

• Leslie Johnston, CEO Laudes Foundation
• Michael D’Onofrio, Growth Investor, Planet First Partners
• Philipp Lavielle, CEO, Fermentalg
• Charlotte Sode, Head of Sector Bioeconomy, Bioeconomy and Food Systems Unit, DG Research & Innovation, European Commission

Further reading tips for this session:

• More information about the European Green Deal can be found here
• Background info on the EU Bioeconomy strategy is available here
• Draft proposal (Version June 2020)  for a European Partnership for a Circular bio-based Europe (PDF Download)
• Press release, Sept 20, Biovale: BioVale is part of BioYorkshire, a ten year initiative to transform North Yorkshire into the UK hub for green innovation and enterprise
• Press release, Sept 11, Laudes Foundation: Fashion for Good and Laudes Foundation embark on a new frontier in chemical recycling
• Background on the cooperation of Fermentalg and Suez on improving air quality in cities and industrial environments with the Pollution and Carbon Sink

AFTERLIFE Stakeholder Workshop:

Advanced Filtration Technologies for the Recovery and Later Conversion of Relevant Fractions from Wastewater 

Visit the website for more information

OUTLOOK 

EFIB 2021 in Vienna
Spotlight on sustainable living – The city of the future  

Hosted by:

Chair & Introduction:
Alexandros Stefanakis, Assistant Professor, School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece

Keynote on “Bio-based building materials for regenerative cities”

Jan Wurm, Director | Foresight + Research + Innovation | Arup University Research Leader Europe, Arup

further speakers:

• Eva Czernohorszky, Vienna Business Agency
• Agnes Borg, Director Industrial Biotechnology, EuropaBio

Further reading tips for this session: 

• Learn more about Vienna as a hotspot for sustainable innovation
• Please  find more details on ARUP’s sustainable buildings design activities here

At the end of this session, the winners of the Digital Start-up Forum and the Digital Innovation Campus will be announced!

AND, you can a win a free stay of 2 nights at the brand-new The Wood hotel in Vienna (built with Stora Enso materials) during EFIB next year. Join us for this session for a chance to win.