„New Plastics Economy“ – High-calibre closing panel at the 3rd ECP with Experts from Think Beyond Plastic, Nouryon, ISC3 and World Economic Forum

• 3rd European Chemistry Partnering, 26. February 2019, Frankfurt
• Top Topic: Sustainable Production, Utilization and Handling of Plastics
• More than 2,000 partnering discussions expected at 3^rd ECP

The development of new plastics, handling of plastics and the problem of plastic pollution  on land and in the sea: for the first time the European Chemistry Partnering addresses one of the major problems of our time. Under the heading "New Plastics Economy", four experts will engage in a critical discussion of the topic: not only about the pros and cons of developing new materials but also about the new quality in dealing with plastics in all areas of our welfare and health, and the resulting economic opportunities.  

The panel, consisting of four experts was established in close cooperation with the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) in Bonn and with the participation of Hessen Trade and Invest (HTAI).

The participants of this final panel discussion "New Plastics Economy": are

• Daniella Russo, Co-Founder and CEO, Think Beyond Plastic, Inc, Menlo Park, USA

• Fernando J. Gómez, Ph.D., Head of Chemistry and Advanced Materials Industry at World Economic Forum, Genf, Schweiz

• Professor Magnus Nydén, Ph.D., Global Chief Scientist, Nouryon Chemicals Holding B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands

• Friedrich Barth, CEO, International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre, Bonn, Germany

Dr. David Eckensberger, Head of Department International Affairs at Hessen Trade & Invest GmbH, will, as in the two previous years, moderate the discussion.

Holger Bengs, initiator of the European Chemistry Partnering, said: "This will be the culmination of a truly eventful day which includes more than 2,000 partnering discussions. Here, away from the high-calibre positions they each hold within their organizations our four experts, who are truly realistic, far-sighted, creative and innovative at the same time will take time out to debate this very important subject. I am very much looking forward to this, which promises to be an inspiring exchange of ideas. And equally, to the eloquent moderation of David Eckensberger, without whom the ECP would never have existed.”

Information about the experts

Friedrich Barth is the Managing Director of the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Center ISC₃ in Bonn. He describes Sustainable Chemistry as a process that supports the implementation of the sound management of chemicals and at the same time creates innovative solutions and new business models for a better world. Friedrich Barth studied Physics, Geo-ecology and Hydrology at the Universities of Heidelberg, Bayreuth, Freiburg and Galway. He has more than 25 years of management experience in the areas of Environment, Climate, Energy and Water both in the public as well as in the private sector on international, national and local level. He contributed to the development of the international sustainability agenda at his various management posts at the German Government, the European Commission, the United Nations Development Programme, and as International Consultant. 

Fernando J. Gómez, Ph.D. is Head of Chemistry and Advanced Materials at the World Economic Forum, where he oversees the involvement of partners from the chemical and materials industries in the Forum’s programs and activities. Fernando has over a decade of experience in structuring and managing partnerships for technical and regional development, and has performed in areas including technology management, innovation, new product development and corporate venturing. Before joining the Forum in 2010, Fernando was for eight years at AkzoNobel, working in the areas of technical development and venture relations. Fernando holds a Chemistry degree from Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia, a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Florida and completed his postdoctoral work at Stanford University.

Professor Magnus Nydén, Ph.D., is a Physical Chemist with a PhD in NMR spectroscopy related to soft materials applications. He later combined physical chemistry, material science and mathematics for solving problems related to industrial materials and processes. Since 2017 he is the Global Chief Scientist at Nouryon and he comes from academic positions as head of department at University College London between 2015-2017, the director of the Ian Wark Research Institute at the University of South Australia between 2012-2015 and before that he was a professor at Chalmers University of technology. He started three businesses during his academic career.

Daniella Russo is the CEO and Co-founder of Think Beyond Plastic™, the leader of a global action to harness the forces of innovation and entrepreneurship to eliminate plastic pollution and to advance the New Plastics Economy. Think Beyond Plastic leads a multidisciplinary effort to identify and commercialize innovations from each segment of the plastics value chain, and to connect industry and investors to the innovation ecosystem. Of particular focus are bio-benign materials, sustainable chemistry, innovative product delivery systems and recycling innovations. Daniella is a serial entrepreneur. She has started and ran numerous high-tech businesses, and her experience includes executive management from start-up phase through an IPO, as well as Fortune-500 companies.

Dr. David Eckensberger currently leads the department international affairs at Hessen Trade & Invest (HTAI), the economic development agency of the federal state of Hessen. His department supports companies on their way to international markets, e.g. by organizing trade-fair appearances or helping to find cooperation partners in the EU. Beforehand, the educated chemist supported Hessian companies in the area of additive manufacturing, chemistry and nanotechnology as the director industrial technologies at HTAI.

Background:

97 percent of all products contain at least one chemical process step: renewable raw materials, enzymes, industrial biotechnology, new processes, products from residual materials, digitization, etc. are changing the processes in chemical value creation: starting with purchasing logistics on to production and finally marketing and sales. Interdisciplinary exchange is gaining in importance. With the ECP, an international chemistry community is growing that wants to derive more innovation from what already exists.                                

European Chemistry Partnering: A brief overview

The European Chemistry Partnering is an event format in which the focus is on discussion about innovation along the chemical value chain. It is aimed at decision makers, innovation managers and investors in the chemical industry and its user industries, as well as industry-focused stakeholders and qualified service providers and consultants. The ECP consists of the elements: Keynote Speech, Partnering, Pitches, Exhibition, Workshops and Final Panel. Companies can describe their innovations in short presentations (Pitches) and arrange appointments via a software tool in advance (Partnering). The European Chemistry Partnering was conceived and initiated by Dr. Holger Bengs, Managing Director of BCNP Consultants GmbH. The first event took place on 16^th February 2017 in Frankfurt am Main. From 2018 onwards the ECP will occur twice a year. In February the venue is Frankfurt. In late summer, the ECP Summer Summit takes place in changing locations.

Further information:

www.ecp2019.com
www.european-chemistry-partnering.com
www.ecp-summer-summit.com
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