Drenthe
prominent and
successful
in biobased
innovation
A powerful region for
entrepreneurs
Strong agribusiness, glasshouse horticulture and
chemistry sectors, collaboration with the right
knowledge institutions, innovative entrepreneurs,
and the logistical possibilities of Dryport
Emmen-Coevorden: Drenthe is a superb location
for high-value biobased developments. And so
Drenthe is the ideal region for the development
and scaling up of new biobased products.
We put applied research into practice and develop
new knowledge in the chemical, food and pharmaceutical industries. This impact extends beyond the
Dutch borders: Drenthe is an international cradle
for biobased innovation and applications.
Because in Drenthe, we are doing it already!
Drenthe is a supplier of biobased knowledge and products in the area of green
chemistry (especially fibres), agribusiness and glasshouse horticulture. Thanks to
the presence of these sectors, the unique logistical possibilities, and the collaboration with specialised knowledge institutions, Drenthe has everything entrepreneurs need to develop the Biobased Economy.
Collaboration
contributes to knowledge
Southeast-Drenthe
prominent in knowledge
cluster BBE!
By 2020, Drenthe will have grown into a fully-fledged knowledge cluster for the
Biobased Economy. The Southeast-Drenthe region is the most important link to this
growth. Its nationally recognised status as a node for open innovation in the
chemistry sector (COCI) under the name Green PAC confirms this. Thanks to this
status there are extra possibilities to use applied research to help starting and
established entrepreneurs to produce competitive and innovative high-value biobased products. Due to the connections between the chemistry node Green PAC
(based at Emmtec business park), the new Masters Programme in Polymer
Engineering at Stenden University of Applied Sciences, and the agriculture and
horticulture sector present, entrepreneurs, researchers, students and knowledge
institutions can find each other easily and strengthen each other’s activities:
Drenthe is full of ‘green’ gold.
Both StendenPRE (collaboration between Stenden, API Institute and Emmtec
Services) and the Proeftuin BCK (collaboration between horticulture sector, knowledge institutions and the processing industry) are good examples of the intended
cross-fertilisation between research, education, entrepreneurs and government
bodies. StendenPRE focuses on fibre chemistry and Proeftuin BCK on innovation in
glasshouse horticulture. Both make use of entrepreneurs’ networks and knowledge
sharing to realise new high-value products.
“Real and virtual lines of contact are short in Drenthe. Companies,
institutions and government bodies can find each other easily. This form
of chain collaboration makes Drenthe a star player in the Biobased
Economy. It offers new market opportunities and provides a boost for
jobs.”
Ard van der Tuuk, member of the Provincial Executive in Drenthe
Southeast Drenthe
is the ideal region for
green chemistry
“StendenPRE
is a breeding ground for
young companies.”
Jan Jager, Professor(of Applied Sciences)
StendenPRE
Drenthe’s chemical industry occupies a top-3 position in Europe when it comes to
innovations in the polymers sector and industrial threads (fibre chemistry). Half of
the synthetic fibre production in the Netherlands is realised at the Emmtec business
park in Emmen. The next step is the switch to green chemistry. Established large
companies and entrepreneurs from SMEs are already becoming involved in the
developments towards a Biobased Economy. Industry, government bodies in
Drenthe and excellent knowledge institutions are working together on this.
A good example is StendenPRE, established in 2011. PRE stands for Polymer
Research & Education and offers entrepreneurs, lecturers and researchers the
opportunity to work on highly innovative green products in the area of polymers.
Recently this collaboration resulted in these parties jointly receiving the status of
Centre for Open Chemical Innovation (COCI) under the name Green PAC (Polymer
Application Centre.) The region (with Emmen at the centre) is therefore the most
important node in the Northern Netherlands for knowledge and innovations in
green chemistry.
“The Southeast-Drenthe region, with Emmen at the centre, is bustling
with biobased activities. I am confident that this will make our
economy stronger and will provide new jobs for Drenthe.”
Nynke Houwing, executive councillor, Emmen city council
Biobased binding wire
for tomatoes
and cucumbers
Innovative horticulture
and agribusiness
The agriculture and glasshouse horticulture industry sectors in Drenthe are known
for their resilience and innovative approach. These entrepreneurs lead the way in
the use of substances from plants, in sensor technology, and in water and nutrient
management. Plants naturally offer substances (plant substances) with unique
characteristics. The specific cultivation of these crops and the use of these
substances by the processing industry is the jewel in the crown of the Biobased
Economy. Drenthe has the entrepreneurs and the knowledge to realise this. The use
of waste flows and plant substances as high-value raw materials for the processing
industry are unique Drenthe innovations. Many crops can be put to good use as
raw materials for certain polymers, healthier nutrition and medicines. And certain
biobased products can in turn be put to good use in the agricultural or glasshouse
horticulture sectors. So these Drenthe innovations make a strong contribution to
a circular economy based on green raw materials.
The horticulture sector in Southeast-Drenthe is collaborating with the API Institute
and a German manufacturer of braided threads on the production of biobased plastics for various applications. A good example is the so-called binding wire for tomato
and cucumber cultivation. In glasshouses, the tomatoes and cucumbers grow upwards via these wires. Usually these wires are made from non-biodegradable plastic
and so they cannot be composted. This means extra work for the horticulture sector
to separate the binding wire from the green waste.
The development of this biodegradable binding wire, which has the same characteristics as the synthetic counterpart, demonstrates that Drenthe is fully engaged in
developing innovative high-value biobased products.
“The Emmen region already has a fantastic position
in the area of fibre chemistry and the transition to green
chemistry will make this cluster even more robust still.”
Bouke Arends, executive councillor, Emmen city council
Drenthe adds value to
green products
Medicine against
heart failure obtained
from plants
In the horticulture and agribusiness sectors, Drenthe is investing in the high-value
application of biobased products. Knowledge institutions and entrepreneurs from
other sectors are also making a considerable contribution to this. For the development of smart materials (such as polymers, chemicals and medicines) new crops
are being cultivated under specific conditions, or waste flows from existing crops
are being reused. These ‘smart’ materials have a higher added value and economic
return, which is necessary in the switch to a biobased economy.
The focus on the use of plant substances for the development of high-value
products with added value and the use of applied research for the scaling up of
these new smart products, has made Drenthe a top business region for high-value
biobased production.
A superb example of the high-value specialised application of plant substances from
the region is the cultivation of foxglove.
Various companies (SU Biomedicine, Boehringer Ingelheim, Triple E) and the Proeftuin BCK are working on a cross-border project for the high-value production of this
plant. It contains a substance (digoxin) which is needed for medicines against heart
failure. The substance cannot be synthesised and occurs only in plants.
“Drenthe is aiming for the top of the biobased pyramid. This requires an entrepreneurial spirit, flexibility and green fingers. Strong business
cases also help, as after all: Seeing innovation makes innovation
happen!”
Jolanda Heistek, ambassador BBE Southeast-Drenthe
POTO’S: JAN JAGER, FOTO WETHOUDER ARENDS: WJ KLEPPE, ASSEN
More information
www.biobaseddrenthe.nl