News
Biobased Products for a Sustainable (Bio)economy
Have you ever asked what “biobased” means or wondered about the key aspects in developing and commercializing biobased products? This course will answer those questions and more; highlighting the opportunities, hurdles, and driving forces of the bioeconomy.
Content of the course
Today’s industries face enormous global challenges when it comes to the fossil-based economy. Fossil resources are no longer a desirable feedstock for many products and governments’ climate goals put various limitations to its usage. Moreover, consumer perception has become an increasingly important factor. With biobased products as an alternative to the fossil-based economy, the bioeconomy can provide viable solutions to these challenges.
The course describes the different types of biomass, the methods of refinery and typical conversion technologies used for biobased products. You'll also engage in a study of the practical and real-life examples emerging in the market: biopolymers, bioenergy, bioflavours, and biosurfactants.
The course has been developed by a team of experts from seven different institutions and universities in three different countries, all sharing their personal perspectives on the opportunities and challenges faced by the biobased industry. The three top-ranked institutions Delft University of Technology, RWTH Aachen University, and Wageningen University & Research offer additional, more advanced courses to continue your learning journey:
- Industrial Biotechnology: a more advanced course that digs deeper into engineering aspects of bio-based products.
- MicroMasters Chemistry and Technology for Sustainability: Help drive the transition from fossil sources to renewable energy ones and engineer a biobased future.
- Sustainable Development: The Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Introduction to sustainable development and its relation to the Water-Energy-Food Nexus.
What you'll learn
- How to judge the opportunities for biobased resources as alternative feedstocks compared to fossil resources
- The challenges and opportunities of the bioeconomy and the basic elements of the value chain
- Real life examples of biobased products of the bioeconomy, such as biosurfactants, bioflavours, bioenergy, and biopolymers
- How biobased products are produced
- The key issues that must be overcome for the commercialization of such products
Meet the instructors
-
Juergen Rabenhorst
Professor of Industrial Biotechnology at OWL University of Applied Sciences -
Manfred Kircher
Chairman at Advisory Board KADIB -
Lars M Blank
Head of Institute of Applied Microbiology at RWTH Aachen University -
Frank Hollmann
Associate Professor Biocatalysis at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) -
Patricia Osseweijer
Professor Science Communication at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) -
Ulrich Schwaneberg
Chair of Biotechnology at RWTH Aachen University -
Aljoscha Wahl
Assistant Professor Systems Biology at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) -
prof.dr. JH (Harry) Bitter
Professor Biobased Chemistry and Technology at Wageningen University & Research -
Wim Soetaert
Professor of Industrial Biotechnology and Microbiology at Ghent University -
Sophie Roelants
Dr. Assistant in Industrial Biotechnology and Microbiology at Ghent University