Innovation Europe > News > Innovation EU Vol2-1 > SusChem

SusChem Responds to European Commission Recommendations for Greater Value Chain Co-operation The chemistry sector is picking up on calls for increased cooperation with other industries through the EU Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem), which in 2010 is holding a series of events and workshops to bring together representatives from leading industries.

Several sectors – including automotive, solar energy, solid-state lighting, civil engineering and aviation/aerospace – are working with SusChem, an initiative of the EU, to help set the future agenda for materials research in Europe. The goal of this co-operation is to identify future needs in materials research and to input into the 8th Framework Programme for Research (FP8).

There are so many revolutionary developments in the raw materials available to industry sectors but it makes no sense for the chemical industry to develop substances or applications in isolation. Increased co-operation with the users of these raw materials will make sure that the materials needed to produce lightweight vehicles and aircraft, efficient solar panels, inexpensive water purification systems, energy-efficient lighting and more are developed so these innovations can be brought to the market as quickly as possible.

Shifting the focus of the 36 European Technology Platforms to encourage them to work together to respond to societal challenges was the recommendation of the European Technology Platform Expert Group, put together by the European Commission in late 2009.

SusChem is working with the Water Supply and Sanitation Technology Platform to develop projects together in order to respond to the future challenge of increased demand for water and particularly competition for water supplies from both urban and industrial users. A high-level roadmap has been set out between the two Platforms for sustainable water use in an integrated water management system between the chemical industry, urban water and value chain partners. A funding application has been made to further develop the concept and to build a demonstration project in the next stage.

More information: www.suschem.org

Ger Spork
SusChem / Innovation manager
Cefic - European Chemical Industry Council
Av. E. Van Nieuwenhuyse 4
1160 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32 2 676 7387
Fax : +32 2 676 7433
E-mail: suschem@suschem.org