ARC CBBC Research Centre: powerful partnership in the chemistry research of the future

On 10 May, the Advanced Research Center Chemical Building Blocks Consortium (ARC CBBC) officially began work The research centre occupies an excellent position to play a leading role in research towards issues such as the circular economy, sustainable chemical processes and clean energy. The main priorities are the three research lines Energy Carriers, Functional Materials and Coatings. “The world faces some major challenges, and we will need the right combination of scientific insight and innovation in order to find answers to them”, according to Marjan Oudeman, President of the Executive Board of Utrecht University, one of the founding partners.

The other founding partners include AkzoNobel, BASF, Shell, NWO, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Topsector Chemistry and the universities of Utrecht, Eindhoven and Groningen. The national research centre will deal with important energy- and chemistry-related issues pertaining to our increasing demand for finite natural resources. “Within this unique partnership, we want join forces to create a ‘new chemistry’”, says Herbert Fisch, Managing Director of BASF Netherlands.

Strong hand

ARC CBBC is a research centre in which the scientific and business communities will initiate a long-term collaboration. “This partnership is based on excellence and joint research programmes, which gives us a strong hand to play in science and innovation in the Netherlands and abroad”, according to Jos Engelen, President of the General Board of NWO, co-financier and -founder of ARC CBBC.

Social issues

ARC CBBC will use fundamental research to contribute to the solution of a wide range of social issues formulated by the National Science Agenda, the EU Grand Challenges and the challenges identified by the United Nations. “ARC CBBC will work on the building blocks that have the potential to fundamentally change our chemical industry”, says Prof. Ben Feringa (University of Groningen), President of the Executive Board.

Absolute top

The ARC CBBC will soon begin accepting open registrations to participate on projects within the research centre. The consortium is emphatically looking for the absolute top talent within both the scientific and business communities. “ARC CBBC should become the beating heart of chemical research in the future”, according to Scientific Director Prof. Bert Weckhuysen (Utrecht University). Interested researchers and businesses can find more information about how to participate on the ARC CBBC website.

More information

• ARC CBBC website
• National research centre for chemical building blocks begins construction , UU.nl, 7-12-2015
• Hundreds of millions for chemical building blocks , Chemisch2Weekblad, 8-12-2015
• Chemical building blocks for a sustainable future , NWO Hypothese, March 2016