Our content is carefully curated and acts as a catalyst for subsequent commercial meetings that take place outside of the theatre. Our speakers have been hand-picked in order to provide ‘real life’ insights and solutions to the most common challenges facing the global industrial biomanufacturing community.
08:00-09:00
Welcome coffee & registration
09:00-09:10
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Paul MacDonald, Co-Founder & MD, World Bio Markets
09:10-09:35
OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Bio & Big Business
Two of the worlds biggest companies are put under the spotlight to find out where biomanufacturing is on their corporate agenda. In this session we will discuss whether biomanufacturing is an environmental or value chain imperative, whether big business (the wealthiest) should be doing more to ‘move the needle’, whether they are capable and the role of the other actors in the value chain and how the future needs to look different to the past… what three things will accelerate the adoption of bio.
Fabien Deswarte, Head of Strategic Partnerships for Sustainability Group, L’Oreal
Ute Schick, SVP & Head of Business Line Care Solutions, Evonik
09:35-10:00
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Supercharging the Commercialization of Innovative Bio-Based Products
This two-part session explores the future of biomanufacturing and sustainable innovation. Jim Flatt, CEO of DMC Biotechnologies since January, will provide an overview of the company and his vision for leveraging DMC’s technology to establish a leading biomanufacturing enterprise. He will discuss how DMC strategically balances its pursuit of high-value nutraceutical markets while advancing large-scale chemical opportunities through partnerships. In the second part, Jim will be interviewed by Mat Wielopolski, Manager at Deloitte Sustainability & Climate and Co-Founder of the Plastic Climate Future podcast. Together, they will delve into key lessons from Jim’s 30-year career in biotechnology and explore strategies to accelerate the development, commercialization, and adoption of fermentation-based chemicals.
Jim Flatt, CEO, DMC Biotechnologies
Mat Wielopolski, Manager Sustainability & Climate, Deloitte
10:00-10:10
Unlocking the Chicken-or-Egg Dilemma of a Promising Biobased Building Block: Building the First Industrial-Scale 5-HMF Plant in Europe
5-Hydroxymethylfurfural has long been considered a promising building block because of its bio-based origin, applicative versatility, and safe nature. Nevertheless, to this day, the chemical industry has been facing a chicken-or-egg dilemma: few companies were willing to develop products based on HMF because its supply was limited, and nobody wanted to build large-scale HMF plants since market adoption remained weak. Michelin Resicare has been one of the pioneers in adopting HMF for its own resin manufacturing, and is addressing the supply problem by constructing the first industrial-scale HMF production plant in Europe.
Aymeric Denoeud, Chief Revenue Officer, Michelin ResiCare
10:10-10:20
Leading the Transition to Sustainable Coatings: We've Got You Covered!
Stahl is at the forefront of sustainable coatings for flexible materials, responding to consumer demand for responsibly produced goods. This presentation highlights how brands and OEM’s in automotive, fashion, and packaging can reduce their environmental impact by shifting from fossil fuels to renewable carbon alternatives. Discover Stahl’s innovative solutions that maintain quality and performance while minimizing environmental footprints. We will showcase our long-standing commitment to eco-friendly innovation, from water-based polyurethanes to renewable carbon materials, supporting your transition to a more sustainable future every step of the way.
Tim Kidd, Senior Open Innovation Manager, Stahl
10:20-10:30
Small Scale to Commercialization: Your Precision Fermentation Journey with Wacker León
Join us as we explore the customer journey at Wacker Chemie AG’s precision fermentation facility in León, Spain.
Our presentation will guide you through the collaborative process we offer to clients, from initial meetings to understand their unique needs, to scaling up production at our state-of-the-art facilities. We’ll showcase our Pilot Plant, with capacities up to 2000 liters, and our industrial scale fermenters, ranging from 100 to 225 cubic meters. Discover how we deliver tailored solutions to help clients thrive in competitive markets like food and personal care. Let’s grow together.
Max Stiehl, Sales & BD Manager CMO, Wacker León
10:30-10:40
Investing in a Sustainable Future: Unlocking the Potential of the Circular Bioeconomy
The circular bioeconomy is transforming industries by replacing fossil-based materials with renewable, more sustainable alternatives, for example in packaging, personal care, food, construction, and chemicals. To stay ahead in a transforming market, the industry is in need of innovation to build resilient supply chains and more sustainable products —yet scaling bio-based solutions remains a challenge. ECBF provides more than just capital by actively shaping value propositions, business models, and upscaling strategies through its extensive network of industry partners and experts. This session explores how strategic investment can accelerate bio-based adoption, transforming industries and ensuring long-term competitiveness.
Michael Nettersheim, Managing Director, European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF)
10:45-11:30
Networking coffee
11:30-11:55
FIRESIDE CHAT
Accelerating Technology Validation and Commercialization in the Biobased Industry through Partnerships
How does the renewables sector overcome the 100-year head start that the fossil-based industry has? Can you rely on excellent technology and hard work alone? Based on two cases, at different maturity levels, we will discuss how collaboration and partnership across the value chain may yield more robust and affordable solutions and facilitate the necessary test, validation and scaling phases.
Hosted By Helge Holm-Larsen, Business Development Manager, Renewable Fuels, Chemicals & Plastics, Alfa Laval
Ulrik Falkenberg Lending, Chief Commercial Officer, Kvasir Technologies
Ryan Adolphson, Chief Operating Officer, RWDC
11:55-12:05
Innovative Pathways: The Evolution of Wood-Pulp and Lignin Solutions
Metsä Fibre is a leading producer of wood-based bioproducts, such as pulp, sawn timber, biochemicals and bioenergy. Our products are known for their high quality, which is based on the unique characteristics of Nordic wood. One of our key objectives is to find new, value-added uses for pulp fibre and pulp production side streams. Renewable wood fibres can replace fossil-based raw materials and promote sustainability in industrial value chains. New pulp fibre based products and oxidised lignin are examples of new innovative solutions for various value chains.
Tuomo Niemi, Director, Business Development, New Products, Metsä Fibre
12:05-12:15
What Does it take to Commercialize the Bio-based Solutions Brands Desire in Today's Cost Sensitive Global Economy?
Industrial Microbes will share how they are leveraging alternative feedstocks and building partnerships across the value chain to make low cost and low-carbon chemicals a reality. Learn how their team has drawn on successes and missteps from the past to create a strategy designed for the unique challenges of today’s biomaterials market.
Noah Helman, Founder & CEO, iMicrobes
Matt Engler, VP Business Development, iMicrobes
12:15-12:25
Beyond Land: Tapping the Ocean's Biomass for Industrial Applications
Sea6 Energy presents a vision for a sustainable future, showcasing the vast potential of tropical seaweed cultivation. Our innovative, mechanized farming techniques unlock a reliable and scalable biomass source for diverse industrial applications. From biostimulants for agriculture to food & feed ingredients, bioplastics like coatings or films, renewable chemicals and other applications, seaweed offers a compelling alternative to fossil-based resources. Join us to explore how Sea6’s pioneering approach to ocean farming can drive the bio-revolution, contributing to a circular economy and a greener planet. Discover the untapped potential of the blue economy with Sea6 Energy.
Ludwig Schmidtchen, General Manager – Biomaterials, Sea6 Energy
12:25-12:50
PANEL DISCUSSION BROUGHT TO YOU BY DAB.BIO
Cost-Competitiveness? Develop with Real Commitment to End-to-End Thinking, and Don’t Forget New Manufacturing Technology
For more than 40 years biotechnologists focussed on the “BIO” part, ignoring that it needs a “TECHNOLOGY” to be successful on the marketplace. Now, it’s time to for a holistic view on an integrated development chain: end-to-end-thinking from feedstock to product focussing on cost-competitive manufacturing technologies.
Hosted By Rob van der Meij, Managing Partner, Capricorn Partners
Eric van der Meer, CEO, DAB.bio
Michael Kopf, Chair of Scientific Advisory Board, Lanzatech
Adam Burja, Senior VP Biotechnology, dsm-firmenich
12:50-14:00
Networking lunch
14:00-14:30
PANEL DISCUSSION
How Bio-Renewable Materials are able to Help both B2B and B2C Industries such as the Footwear, Heat Transfer Cooling and Coatings & Paint Industry Reduce their Environmental Impact
Every year the footwear industry produces more than 25 Billion pairs of shoes, with the majority of the materials used still originating from a petroleum based feedstock and almost none recycled. Liquid cooling today is still predominantly petroleum based but bio-renewable solutions are making their way in various applications. The coatings and paint industry next challenge is to shift from petroleum based building blocks to bio-renewable alternatives. This panel of key influencers will discuss the primary challenges to overcome and the solutions that will help both in B2C and B2B to shift to greener solutions.
Hosted By Patrick Van Waes, Global Marketing Director, Primient Covation LLC
Delphine Martin, Global Marketing Manager, Climalife
Jake Van Daam, Sr Director of Product, Insite Insoles
Soren Focken, R&D Manager, BCH
14:30-14:40
Biobased Monomers and Polymers, New Developments and Applications
Novamont is a pioneer in the circular bioeconomy, integrating chemistry and agriculture to develop sustainable bioplastics and biochemicals. Novamont’s technologies result in sustainability achievements for a greener future. Amongst our key innovations, we captively use 1,4 bio-butanediol (Bio-BDO), produced via fermentation from renewable feedstocks at the world’s first industrial-scale plant. Bio-BDO is a versatile intermediate used in biodegradable bioplastics (Mater-Bi®), thermoplastic polyurethanes, fibres, coatings, adhesives, and elastomers, contributing to the decarbonization of multiple industries. Novamont’s strategy emphasizes the reindustrialization of disused sites, agricultural waste valorisation, and emissions reduction.
Stefano Facco, New Business Development Director, Novamont
14:40-14:50
Scaling-Up Microbial Protein Production
Microbial proteins are a promising and diverse product group for sustainable applications in a.o. food, feed, cosmetics and agrotechnology. The complex structure of the molecules contributes to their unique functional properties, but also to the process challenges and the need for close process control and monitoring. Finding tailor-made solutions and developing cost competitive processes requires the right equipment, experience and know-how. Some examples of how the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant has done this in the past 15 years.
Muriel Dewilde, Business Development Manager, Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant
14:50-15:30
Networking coffee
15:30-15:40
The Future-proof Cosmetic Packaging Material - Let’s Unlock the Potential of PLA
According to UNEP, 36% of all plastics produced are used in packaging, but most end up in oceans, landfills, or incinerators, contributing to GHG emissions and pollution. Plastics can also contain harmful chemicals, threatening biodiversity and human health. As awareness grows, some companies are transitioning to sugarcane-based plastics. Sulapac® powered by Luminy® compounds, made from renewable sugarcane, offer an eco-friendly alternative. These bioplastics are recyclable, compostable, and have a 75% lower carbon footprint than traditional plastics.
Seda Cantekin and Miki Lahtinen will be presenting the most recent innovations and application developments which can answer the transition needs of the cosmetics industry, food services and thermoforming alike.
Seda Cantekin, Market Segment Leader, TotalEnergies Corbion
Miki Lahtinen, Sales Director, Sulapac
15:40-15:55
GUEST SPEAKER
The Bio-Based Innovations Driving IKEA's future
IKEA actively integrates biomaterials to enhance sustainability in its products, using renewable resources like bamboo, PE from sugarcane industry, and recycled paper. The company’s research emphasizes reducing environmental impact and supporting a circular economy. By innovative development, IKEA aims to replace fossil-based materials, promoting both ecological and economic sustainability.
Catarina Vannfält, Material & Innovation Developer- Polymer, IKEA
15:55-16:05
Accelerating Bioprocess Development: Case Studies in Pow.Bio's Rapid Tech Deployment
Pow.Bio’s AI-powered continuous fermentation platform is bringing much-needed updates to 21st century biomanufacturing, driving real-world impact, and enabling production of high-value, commercially available proteins across the globe. CEO Shannon Hall will share exclusive updates on recent client successes – boosting productivity by over 300% through AI-driven optimization and delivering a cost-effective, scalable bioprocess. Shannon will provide insights into an ongoing international deployment, emphasizing the flexibility of a technology that can be easily integrated into any facility, anywhere in the world.
Shannon Hall, CEO & Co-Founder, Pow.Bio
16:05-16:30
PANEL DISCUSSION
Industrial Biomanufacturing - A Global View
Cross continental collaborations and partnerships are imperative if the global sector is to scale at the pace that the planet needs. Here a panel, of four experts, discuss what is helping biomanufacturing in their region to flourish and/or what barriers need to removed for greater adoption. Legislation, funding, the scaleup journey and consumer appetite will all be discussed.
Hosted By Michael Carus, Founder & CEO, nova-Institute
Huiling Lee, Consortium Manager, SINERGY (Singapore Consortium for Synthetic Biology)
Meaghan Seagrave, Executive Director, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Gustavo Alvares, Managing Partner, AACM
16:30-16:40
B1O Molecules: Pioneers Challenging Fossil Materials in the Race for Biobased
The biobased transition is still in its early stages, with foundations, key players, and market dynamics emerging. We’re at the start of a complex race with limited data and few precedents. This session revisits 10 sugar-based molecules, analyzing the evolution of critical projects and players over the past decade. It will illustrate the impact of internal and external factors through targeted case studies.
Maddalena Logrieco, Researcher in Biobased Transitions, MNEXT – Avans Hogenschool
16:45-17:00
BISC-E Challenge – Accelerating the Transition to a Bio-based Economy
The Bio-based Innovation Student Challenge Europe (BISC-E) is a Europe-wide student competition to stimulate entrepreneurship and award excellence, seeking to raise awareness and involve students in the transition towards a bio-based economy. And this year, the Dutch Finals will be held at World Bio Markets!
The top three teams of this year will pitch their ideas live on stage, with the winning team earning themselves a prize of 1000 EUR and a spot at the European finals in October. Don’t miss the chance to hear these exciting pitches and witness the future of sustainable innovation.
Organised and hosted by Wageningen University & Research, Bio-based Circular and Avans UAS-MNext
Kirsten Steinbusch, Programme Director at Bio-based Circular and Jury President
Nathalie Mangelaars, Owner & Trainer at Pitch Academy
17:00-18:30
Networking drinks