Sustainable technology platform

SusChem (European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry) Implementation Action Plan, published by CEFIC... 

Finally, they outline the role played by governments and government bodies such as the European Technology Platform on Sustainable Chemistry as well as other stakeholders. 

The combination of process intensification and process miniaturization is an important element of sustainable technology and a platform for advancement in multidisciplinary science and engineering. There are now several examples of intensified processes being utilized in industry, as apparent from patent activity. Some of these intensified processes are confined to a single unit operation, while others integrate several intensified unit operations in the more efficient production of existing/improved/novel products. 

The three main documents prepared by the European Technology Platform on Sustainable Chemistry (Vision Paper, Strategic Research Agenda, and Implementation Action Plan they can be download free from cited ETP SusChem web site) evidence how sustainability through chemistry (probably a better definition than sustainable chemistry) requires a far more concerted and integrated effort than only a greener chemistry, which, nevertheless, is a core part of this vision. 

However, new sustainability issues require R D to be put back at the core of chemical industry. The first element to move in this direction is the development of a longer term vision for the chemical industry, which contrasts the very short term view (few years) planning of several companies and the continuous restructuring of the chemical industry in the last one-two decades. One of the positive signals in this direction is the cited European Technology Platform on Sustainable Chemistry and the related prepared document [6], which plans to define the scenario for R D for the next 20 years. 

The final section of this chapter has been dedicated to a concise discussion of a vision and roadmap for sustainability through chemistry, taken from the implementation action plan prepared by the European Technology Platform on Sustainable Chemistry. This plan evidences the pervasive role of chemistry for our society and thus how a next step is necessary in R D to really realize a sustainable world through chemistry innovation. 

Catalysis is also one of the key enabling factors for the European Technology Platform of Sustainable Chemistry (www.suschem.org). A specific coordination of European innovation-driven research in the field of catalysis and sustainable chemistry has been made by the ACENET ERA-NET network (www.acenet.net) and a European N etwork of Excellence (ID EC AT, www.idecat.org) has been dedicated to the role of catalysis for sustainable production and energy. In Japan the Green and Sustainable Chemistry Network (www.gscn.net) dedicates much attention to catalysis. 

This book originates from these considerations, which are shared by the great effort made in the last 3-4 years by the chemical industry in Europe to define a new vision and roadmap for industrial chemistry through the discussion made vfithin the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (www.suschem.org) sponsored by CEEIC (European Eederation of Chemical Industry) and EuropaBio (European Association of Biotechnology). 

The book also originates from the intense discussions made within the frame of the Italian Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (IT-SusChem), which was launched in Bologna (Italy) on November 2006 and which involves over 250 stakeholders. IT-SusChem reflects on a national level the objectives and structure of the European Technology Platform of Sustainable Chemistry that have inspired this book and which are discussed in several chapters. 

SNETP. 2012. Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform Strategic Research Agenda—Annex, Molten Salt Reactor Systems. 

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