European Polysaccharide
Network of Excellence
(EPNOE)
Patrick Navard, CEMEV
&
Jan E.G. van Dam, FBR
July 2013
The European Polysaccharide
Network of Excellence
EPNOE
Polysaccharide conference 2013
More than 465 participants
60 countries from all continents
10 plenary and invited speakers
230 oral presentations
200 poster presentations
- (3)
Content
 What is EPNOE?
Polysaccharides
Missions
Context Biobased Economy
 Cellulose uses and developments
Polysaccharides
 Natural polymers such as starch, cellulose,
petcin, chitin, carrageenan....
 Produced by plants and animals.
Trees
Chitin
Straws
cotton
Starch
Cellulose
crab
Coconut
corn
Bacteria
Algae
Hemp
EPNOE
 A new concept for organising
Research and Education on
polysaccharides at the European
level
 The most complete, efficient and
innovative research network on
polysaccharide worldwide
 A platform for bringing together
companies and research centres.
EPNOE is
 a network of 16 research centres in
9 countries focusing on research in
polysaccharide science.
 a common Research, Education and
Communication organisation.
 an organisation for promoting R&D
contracts with companies.
 Launched in May 2005 within the 6th Framework-Programme of
Research and Development funded by the European Commission
EPNOE Members’ Knowledge and Skills
Availability
and sources
Biocompatibility
Biological properties
Enzymology
Microbiology
Chemistry
Extraction
Derivatisation
Chemical
analysis
Dissolution
Physics
Cellulose
Chitin/Chitosan
Rheology
Physical
characterisation
Surface
Starch
Hemicelluloses
Chemical
engineering
Alginates
Mechanics
Materials
science
Processing
Life cycle
assessment
Industrial membership
EPNOE is building a solid bridge between the 16
EPNOE partners and the companies working or
planning to work in the polysaccharide field in order:
to gain
fast transfer and exploitation of knowledge
ideas
new processes
encouragement for young scientists to move to our
field
to offer its members a multidisciplinary and
collaborative R&D platform.
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Information access: Databases
NEW DATABASE LISTING COMPANIES INTERESTED IN POLYSACCHARIDES
Company database: list of more than 1500 companies working in the
polysaccharide sector or having connections with polysaccharide-based
products.
NEW DATABASE LISTING ACADEMIC RESEARCHERS WORKING AROUND
POLYSACCHARIDES
List of more than 10 000 academic researchers working in the polysaccharide
sector or having connections with polysaccharide-based products.
These databases can be used by all EPNOE members to channel information and
to look for expertise.
The academic data base could also be used for exchanging information between
researchers being listed.
Dissemination
PROMOTION OF COMPANIES THROUGH A SPECIAL MAILING OF THE
EPNOE NEWSLETTER ISSUE
EPNOE Newsletter is presently sent to about 500 subscribers. Special issue
dedicated to the activities of the company members of EPNOE and to send it to all
the entries of the two new databases, i.e. to more than 10 000 academics and more
than 1500 companies.
NEWS
EPNOE Association will become a member of a French “Pôle de Compétitivité”
named Céréales Vallée which is publishing together with other poles de
Compétitivité an intelligence newsletter around biomass-based products, that will
be translated in English and sent to EPNOE members.
The same will occur for the newsletter of the Belgian ValBiom cluster (Matières
Premières Renouvelables).
Missions of EPNOE
To provide its Members a secure area for collaboration
Research
Performing the best world-class,
multidisciplinary research on
polysaccharides
Education
Education of young scientists
Dissemination of polysaccharide
knowledge at all levels of society
Relations with industry
Strong links with industry
Applied research in Materials, Food
and Health sectors.
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Transition to Biobased Economy
 Polysaccharides are a key strategic issue
● Dependence on fossil oil
● Natural, most abundant source of bio-polymers on earth
 Need of frontline, multidisciplinary research
● Lack of knowledge (?)
● Bringing together different disciplines
● New knowledge
● New application opportunities.
Bioeconomy - Biobased economy – Bioenergy
Kwant, AgNL
Biobased economy
Biobased economy
Polysaccharides
$ugar
Proteins
Fats
Bioeconomy and polysaccharides
 Food and Feed
 CO2 neutral materials and ‘green’ chemicals
● Biorefineries
● Bioplastics
● Textiles
● Paper and Board
 Health and pharma
 Fuel
EPNOE 2013 Conference topics
Isolation
characterization of properties
Biosynthesis / Biodegradation
Chemical modification
Nanotechnology: nano and micro- objects
Biomimetic applications
End uses:
fuel
food
pharma
materials
Textiles - Bioplastics - Paper and boards
Life Cycle Assessments - Environmental concerns –
Policy – Social aspects
Cellulose in the bioeconomy
Cellulose resource matrix
Full screen
Cellulose
resource
image
matrix
with title
Valorisation piramid
Glucose platform chemical
WP4-1
Twinning
• EU Research projects on Fibre crops
– Flax / Linseed
– Hemp
– Kenaf
– Nettle
– Cotton
– Miscanthus (Elephant grass)
– Etc.
(see CORDIS (www.cordis.europa.eu/projects )
19 -20 March 2013
2nd FIBRA meeting, Roma
24
WP4-1
Twinning of large sets of research projects/consortia
• China Research projects on Fibre crops
– Flax / Linseed
– Hemp
– Kenaf / Jute
– Nettle / Ramie
– Cotton
– Miscanthus / Bamboo
– Etc.
19 -20 March 2013
亚麻
纤维麻
红麻 黄麻
荨麻 苎麻
棉
芒 (象草) / 竹
2nd FIBRA meeting, Roma
25
Development of (non-)woven natural fibres based
biocomposites for structural applications
BIONICOMP project (2012-2015):
Ribbon
- Goal : Improving the fibre / matrix interface in
natural fibres reinforced elastomers and
thermosets by radiation grafting
- Applications : interior parts of aircraft, sports and
leisure equipments and technical textiles
- Coordinator :
- Partnership : 5 industrial partners (2 SME) and
2 research centers
Roving
- Budget : 3.2 M€
Woven
Fabrics
C2MA
Centre des Matériaux
 2013
 2014
Only seven years to go !
● 2015
● 2016
● 2017
● 2018
• 2019
WP4-1
Twinning of large sets of research projects/consortia
• For twinning scientific communities 2
twinning events will be organized:
– One in Europe
(Wageningen, month 14)
– One in China
(Changsha长沙, Hunan
month 24)
19 -20 March 2013
2nd FIBRA meeting, Roma
28
感谢您的关注
(Gǎnxiè nín de guānzhù)
Thank you for your attention
jan.vandam@wur.nl
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