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, Partner & Head of Community, 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
Wacker Chemie
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
Hosted By Eric van der Meer, CEO, DAB.bio
12:50-14:00
Networking lunch
14:00-14:30
PANEL DISCUSSION
How Bio-Renewable Materials are able to Help the Footwear Industry Reduce their Envioronmental 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. This panel of key influencers will discuss the primary challenges to overcome and the solutions that will help this consumer goods industry to shift to greener solutions.
Hosted By Patrick Van Waes, Global Marketing Director, Primient Covation LLC
Delphine Martin, Global Marketing Manager, Climalife
14:30-14:40
Novamont
14:45-15:00
A technical presentation from a world leading bio pioneer
15:00-15:30
Networking coffee
15:30-15:40
TotalEnergies Corbion
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
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)
Sangeeta Srivastava, Executive Director, Godavari Biorefineries
16:30-16:45
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
16:45-18:30
Networking drinks