Athanassia Athanassiou
Principal Investigator, Coordinator of Smart Materials Group, Italian Institute of Technology, Genova, Italy
Who
I am tenured Principal Investigator at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia in Genoa and the coordinator of the Smart Materials, an interdisciplinary materials science group of 50 people. I have a MSc and PhD in Physics.
Why
I study and develop bioplastics that combine the versatility of the classic plastic materials with the possibility of biodegradation, respecting the environment and following the concepts of sustainability and circular economy.
What
I plan to provide technical and scientific suggestions for the development of sustainable bioplastic materials as well as support for the development of environmental friendly materials for various applications where synthetic non biodegradable plastics are currently dominant.
Fabio Fava
Full Professor of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, School of Engineering, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Who
I am coordinator of FP7 projects NAMASTE and BIOCLEAN, Italian Representative in the Horizon2020 SC2 programming Committee, the “Public Private Partnership BioBased Industry”, the BLUEMED initiative and the OECD Working Party on BNCT. I am also the Scientific Coordinator of Italian Bioeconomy Strategy at the Presidency of Council of Ministers in Rome.
Why
Marine litter is strongly affecting the health and productivity of Mediterranean sea. I am interested in developing R&I actions addressed to valorize the plastic wastes and the ones recovered from the sea and in the development and assessment of novel biodegradable plastics.
What
The political and R&I knowhow associated with the sector of bioplastics and plastic circular economy developed in the frame of Horizion2020 and Bluemed programming committees and the BIOCLEAN FP7 project that I coordinated on the biodegradation of plastics.
Francesco Degli Innocenti
Industrial Microbiologist and Director, Ecology of Products with Novamont
Who
I am convenor of the working group CEN TC 249 WG9 (Plastics-Bio-based and biodegradable plastics) at CEN, convenor of the working group ISO TC61 SC14 WG1 (Plastics- Environmental Aspects- Terminology, classifications and general guidance), and Chairman of the UNI / CT 600 / SC 27 Sub-Committee on the "Environmental aspects of plastics". I was appointed by the European Commission as Chairman of the "Standardization working group" within the ad-hoc group for the implementation of the "Lead Market Initiative for bio-based products".
Why
I have been working in the field of biodegradable and bio-based plastics for the last 30 years as a researcher and manager. When I started almost 30 years ago, the sector of bioplastics was a completely new and stimulating field for a microbiologist, new approaches and methodologies had to be created.
What
I am an expert in the sector of standardization of bio-based and biodegradable plastics. I am involved in standardization at ISO, CEN, UNI, ASTM level where I contributed to the development of relevant standards in the sector of bio-based and biodegradable plastics.
Guy Buyle
Manager EU Research Centexbel
Who
I am manager EU Research at Centexbel and coordinated, among others, the Horizon 2020 project BIO4SELF, which developed bio-based composites and which resulted in the commercialisation (by Comfil®) of BIO4M®, a fully bio-based self-reinforced composite material based on PLA. Further, I'm coordinating H2020 project HEREWEAR which aims for circular bio-based textile materials and garments.
Why
Going to a bio-based economy is highly asked for, both from consumer and policy side. It is especially promising when combined with circular and regional aspects. I am interested in and want to actively contribute to research and innovation trying to realise this goal.
What
Based on my experience as European (H2020) project manager, I want to support the consortium by giving feedback on the results, by advising on how to tackle the many 'bio-based challenges' and by looking together for continuing the work.
Maximilian Lackner
Programme Director Master "International Business & Engineering", Programme Director Master "Innovation and Technology Management", University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, Austria
Who
I have studied Technical Chemistry at Vienna University of Technology, where I obtained my PhD in 2003 and my habilitation (Chemical Engineering) in 2009. I have authored over 100 scientific contributions and I am lecturing at Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria, Xidian University, Xi’An, China, and the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, Vienna, Austria,
Why
Having worked in the polymer industry for over a decade in several senior leadership positions in Austria and China, I started to explore bioplastics. I have established the sales of PBAT from a Chinese manufacturer in Europe from 2016-2017 and have developed a process to make PHB from CO2 using cyanobacteria. I am founding editor-in-chief of the “International Journal of Biobased Plastics” with Taylor and Francis, founding member of the Go!PHA organization and member of the biopolymer team of the Austrian plastics cluster. I run several research projects on bioplastics.
What
I would like to support the Bio-Plastics Europe Project in whichever way is needed. For instance, I can give seminars, lectures, try to recruit members (individuals and companies), (co) organize meetings and events, and offer the Journal of Biobased Plastics as a publishing platform. Also, I can collaborate in scientific projects, write white papers, write joint project proposals, etc.