"Evolution of the Chemicals Industry" Part 1 of 2-day mini-confernces programme - Hosted Innovate UK and BBSRC.

About this Session

The session explores how the chemical sector can move away from virgin fossil carbon as feedstock, addressing which are the alternative feedstocks and how can we use them. You will hear short presentations from our speakers, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A.

Session Chairs

• Dana Heldt, Knowledge Transfer Manager for Synthetic Biology, Innovate UK Business Connect
• Sarah Hickingbottom

Speakers

• Reducing the reliance of the chemicals industry on fossil feedstocks
  Adrian Higson, Managing Director, Lead Consultant Biobased Products, NNFCC The Bioeconomy Consultants
• Jen Vanderhoven, FREY Consulting
• Circularity and Decarbonisation of the Plastics Value Chain
  Steve Garbutt, Project Director, Mura Technology
• How to Make Chemicals – and Profit – from CO2
  Nick Smith, Commercial Director, ViridiCO2 Ltd.
• Biomass feedstocks for sustainable fuels production
  Robert Hardy, Business Development Manager, Gidara Energy

Speaker Bio:

Adrian Higson, Managing Director, Lead Consultant Biobased Products, NNFCC The Bioeconomy Consultants

Adrian is a chartered chemist with over 24 years’ research and consulting experience within the chemical and biobased products industry. Since 2021 he has been the Managing Director of NNFCC, a bioeconomy focussed business consultancy providing market analysis, feedstock availability appraisal and sustainability assessment cross the bioenergy and biobased products sectors. Since joining NNFCC in 2003 Adrian has taken an active role in the development of the bioeconomy including as a member of the UK Industrial Biotechnology Leadership Forum and the Scottish Bioeconomy Council. Prior to joining NNFCC, Adrian was a project manager at SAFC Pharma and held research posts at the University of Dundee and University of Colorado.