Prof. dr. Hans de Vries combines a professorate at the University of Groningen (RUG) with a position at chemical company DSM. This enables him to identify the knowledge gaps that the industry is facing, and to set up academic research programmes to find a solution to known problems. “This kind of co-operation has much added value in the fast-changing field of catalysis.”Hans de Vries is a part-time professor homogeneous catalysis for fine chemicals at the RUG’s Stratingh Institute for Chemistry. He is also a principal scientist at DSM, which a few decades ago was a typical bulk chemicals producer. Nowadays, the company focuses on high-grade materials and products for life sciences. De Vries’ role within DSM is to scout scientific developments relevant for DSM’s own research and following this up with new research projects. He says: “We focus on developing new catalytic reactions, mainly for pharmaceuticals and fine chemical products. By making the production of pharmaceutical intermediates more efficient, we can reduce their costs. And if we develop a new and more economic route, there’s a good chance that DSM will be awarded the ton-scale production of that intermediate.”
Cutting edge
De Vries is also member of the management team of CatchBio with responsibility for the fine/pharma cluster, in which DSM participates. “The presence of a fine chemical/pharma cluster within CatchBio might seem strange”, says De Vries. “In the fine chemical industry, renewables are not a major issue. Producers generally buy raw materials that happen to be available. Sustainability, however, is very important. One way to come to more sustainable production methods is by increasing the use of catalysis.” Apart from DSM Pharma Chemicals, another group within DSM is also involved in CatchBio: the emerging business area (EBA)Bio-Based Products and Services, that focuses on developing processes that convert renewable resources into bulk and fine chemicals. That group is very interested in new technologies to convert renewables, either via fermentation or via chemistry and catalysis. The CatchBio program covers topics that are relevant for both markets. The field of chemistry is moving fast, says De Vries: “Today’s cutting edge may be outdated tomorrow. Under these circumstances, co-operation has much added value. CatchBio’s philosophy is to co-operate on topics that benefit everyone involved.”
De Vries is also member of the management team of CatchBio with responsibility for the fine/pharma cluster, in which DSM participates. “The presence of a fine chemical/pharma cluster within CatchBio might seem strange”, says De Vries. “In the fine chemical industry, renewables are not a major issue. Producers generally buy raw materials that happen to be available. Sustainability, however, is very important. One way to come to more sustainable production methods is by increasing the use of catalysis.” Apart from DSM Pharma Chemicals, another group within DSM is also involved in CatchBio: the emerging business area (EBA)Bio-Based Products and Services, that focuses on developing processes that convert renewable resources into bulk and fine chemicals. That group is very interested in new technologies to convert renewables, either via fermentation or via chemistry and catalysis. The CatchBio program covers topics that are relevant for both markets. The field of chemistry is moving fast, says De Vries: “Today’s cutting edge may be outdated tomorrow. Under these circumstances, co-operation has much added value. CatchBio’s philosophy is to co-operate on topics that benefit everyone involved.”
Envy
The chemical industry is very good in identifying the knowledge gaps, says De Vries: “However, company research is very much focused on the short term. When it takes four years of research to develop a new technology, they tend to lose interest. That is the beauty of my position: at DSM, I see what the industry’s current and future technology gaps are. And as a university researcher, I can work on long-term research programs to fill those gaps. Eight years ago, we were already working on renewables in Groningen.” De Vries is envied by his colleagues in England and Germany, he says: “In these countries, industrial researchers may lecture at universities. But part-time professorships like in the Netherlands that would allow them to perform their own research are unknown. In addition, there is no strong collaboration between industry and academia in programs such as CatchBio.”
The chemical industry is very good in identifying the knowledge gaps, says De Vries: “However, company research is very much focused on the short term. When it takes four years of research to develop a new technology, they tend to lose interest. That is the beauty of my position: at DSM, I see what the industry’s current and future technology gaps are. And as a university researcher, I can work on long-term research programs to fill those gaps. Eight years ago, we were already working on renewables in Groningen.” De Vries is envied by his colleagues in England and Germany, he says: “In these countries, industrial researchers may lecture at universities. But part-time professorships like in the Netherlands that would allow them to perform their own research are unknown. In addition, there is no strong collaboration between industry and academia in programs such as CatchBio.”