“Commercialisation & partnerships will be key themes & conversations during the event.” ZeaChem

Feb. 15, 2013 - PRLog -- Industry leading speakers joining the forthcoming Bio-based Chemicals Conference and Exhibition (www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com/biochem) pre-emptively discuss the key themes of scaling up production and the advantages of strategic partnerships within the bio-based chemicals industry in the run up to the 5th international conference taking place the 13-14 March at the Beurs-World Trade Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.  

The conference organisers, Green Power Conferences, have carried out a series of interviews with the conference’s leading speaker line-up, 70% of who are C Level, Director or senior management representation. The majority describe the shift towards commercial scale production as the most pertinent development since the conference last convened in Rotterdam in 2012. Bob Walsh the Chief Commercial Officer at ZeaChem agrees and feels that “there is room for continued growth and expansion in the year ahead”.

Looking forward, many of the speakers now agree that a factor hindering progress is access to the capital resources required to reach commercial scale. Fred Moesler, Chief Technology Officer at Renmatix even suggests that, going forward, it will be a matter of “which companies can survive the valley of death and become economically and environmentally sustainable.”

An emerging trend in the bid to reach commercial scale is the role of strategic partnerships. Not only do these partnerships benefit companies from falling over the precipice of the ‘valley of death’ by providing additional financing but it also means that intellectual resources are acquired. This combination has been a pinnacle of success in the bio-based chemicals market to date. But, what do the experts think are the key components in aligning strategic partnerships?

Mike Knauf, Chief Executive Officer at Rivertop Renewables believes there are two fundamentals to a winning partnership or joint venture: “First, partnerships require full alignment of objectives to succeed. Next, the partners must create more value together than they would alone. Without either of these, you’re sunk”.

Beyond the fundamental synergies that need to exist, Babette Petterson, Chief Commercial Officer at BioAmber thinks that “the key aspects of a winning partnership or joint venture are based on the ‘softer’, human side of business; trust and transparency; cultural compatibility - effectively people, and how well they work together”.

As General Manager of Reverdia, a joint venture between DSM and Roquette, Will van den Tweel provides a qualified comment that “an aligned strategy and commitment” are the simple guidelines to a successful union.

Join the debate to hear more from these representatives (view their full interviews here (http://www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com/EF/?sSubSystem=Prospe...)), along with all 35 confirmed speakers, at the 5th international Bio-based Chemicals Conference (http://www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com/EF/?sSubSystem=Prospe...), 13-14 March in Rotterdam, which will unite leaders to accelerate commercialisation, innovation and market uptake.

Leading industry professionals from big chemical companies (DSM, Bayer), end users (PepsiCo, Danone, Kimberly Clark, AkzoNobel), pioneering renewable chemical companies (Avantium, Bioamber, Elevance), feedstock producers (Renmatix, Agrivida), biotechnology companies (Global Bioenergies, EcoSynthetix) and financiers (Vantage Point Capital Partners, Sofinnova Partners) will unite to discuss the strategic trajectory of the bio-based economy, updates on recent collaborations, discussions on commercial scale product realisation and the appetite of end users which is new to 2013.

Bio-based Chemicals (www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com/biochem) will once again be co-located with the 8th annual World Biofuels Markets Congress & Exhibition (www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com) - which will bring together over 1500 decision-making delegates, thought-leading speakers and world-class sponsors from every part of the biofuels value chain, in one place at one time, to network and debate the most current topics. Two industry-leading events for the price of one: Register for Bio-based Chemicals or World Biofuels Markets and attend either event on the days you register for. Visit www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com for more information.

Bio-based Chemicals and World Biofuels Markets, organised by Green Power Conferences, will be held on March 12-14 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The Bio-based Chemicals Conference takes place on March 13 and 14 and the site visit on March 12.

For more information: www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com/biochem

Register today

Call: +44 (0)20 7099 0600

Email: Samantha.coleman@greenpowerconferences.com

Or book online at www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com/biochem

For more information on this press release please contact Melanie Botting on +44 (0)20 7099 0600 or melanie.botting@greenpowerconferences.com