Researchers and industry experts gathered on 11 March at the University of Aveiro for the international workshop “Circular & Sustainable Polymers – Where Academia Meets Industry”, dedicated to advancing sustainable polymer materials and strengthening collaboration between academia and industry. The event took place at the University of Aveiro and brought together specialists from several European research institutions and companies.

The workshop opened with a presentation by Nathanaël Guigo from Mines Paris – PSL, who discussed the transition from knowledge-driven investigation to industrial process requirements within the furanic value chain. His talk explored how scientific advances in furan-based chemistry can be translated into scalable solutions for polymer production.

Tobias Robert, from Fraunhofer WKI, presented recent developments in applied investigation on bio-based coating materials, highlighting advances in renewable raw materials and sustainable coating technologies.

Representing industry, Toine Biemans from Worlée-Chemie addressed the development of circular and sustainable polymers for coating applications, focusing on strategies to incorporate renewable feedstocks and improve lifecycle performance.

Martin Ocepek, Director of R&D at Helios Resins, shared examples of scientific collaborations between industry and academic partners, illustrating how joint projects can support innovation and sustainability in polymer science.

Roy Visser from Avantium discussed the importance of collaborative networks in enabling the market introduction of new plant-based polyesters, highlighting the role of partnerships across the value chain in bringing innovative materials to market.

The programme also featured Dimitrios Bikiaris from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, who addressed the development of bio-based polymers and additives designed to improve the sustainability and performance of polymer systems.

The workshop concluded with a presentation by Andreia F. Sousa from CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, who discussed the role of furan chemistry in advancing materials science and technology, highlighting how these compounds contribute to the development of renewable polymer solutions.

Celebrations of our Milestones

The event further contributed to the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Aveiro and the 25th anniversary of CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing sustainability challenges in materials science.

The opening ceremony featured Armando Silvestre and Sónia Ventura representing DQ and CICECO.

GREEN-X MSCA Staff Exchanges project

This workshop was also integrated into the kick-off meeting of the GREEN-X Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges project, a European initiative that promotes collaboration and knowledge exchange between academic institutions and industrial partners working on sustainable materials.

The kick-off meeting brought together the project partners to discuss objectives, define collaboration strategies, and outline the next steps for the project’s activities.

Get to know more about MSCA: link.