The national research centre wants to play a leading role in research towards issues such as the circular economy, sustainable chemical processes and clean energy. “The world faces some major challenges, and we will need the right combination of scientific insight and innovation in order to find answers to them”, according to Marjan Oudeman, President of the Executive Board of Utrecht University, one of the founding partners. Other partners, besides TU/e, are AkzoNobel, BASF, Shell, NWO, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Topsector Chemistry and the universities of Utrecht and Groningen. ARC CBBC will use fundamental research to contribute to important energy- and chemistry-related issues pertaining to our increasing demand for finite natural resources. This concerns a wide range of social issues formulated by the National Science Agenda, the EU Grand Challenges and the challenges identified by the United Nations.“Within this unique partnership, we want join forces to create a ‘new chemistry’”, says Herbert Fisch, Managing Director of BASF Netherlands. Or, as Ben Feringa (University of Groningen), President of the Executive Board, says: “ARC CBBC will work on the building blocks that have the potential to fundamentally change our chemical industry.”The ARC CBBC will soon begin accepting open registrations to participate on projects within the research centre. The consortium is emphatically looking for the absolute top talent within both the scientific and business communities. “ARC CBBC should become the beating heart of chemical research in the future”, according to Scientific Director Bert Weckhuysen (Utrecht University). Interested researchers and businesses can find more information about how to participate on the ARC CBBC website.

Source: TU/e press team