In the field of chemistry, where fossil feedstock have long been the backbone, finding alternatives is crucial. Shifting to sustainable feedstocks and applications are pivotal to address climate challenges. With both the Netherlands and China prioritising to make its industries sustainable, collaboration is worthwhile to explore.
In light of this, a Dutch innovation mission to China on green chemistry and circular plastics took place in September 2024. 29 Dutch government representatives, forward-looking companies and top knowledge institutes were part of the delegation to understand developments and opportunities for collaboration in circular plastics, biobased chemistry and carbon capture & utilization (CCU). In an eight-day programme, the delegation visited seven cities across China, led by Chair of the Topteam of ChemistryNL Jacqueline Vaessen. Part of the delegation were Netherlands Ministry of Climate and Green Growth, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, ChemistryNL, National Growth Fund Circular Plastics NL and ARC CBBC amongst others.
The delegation started in Shanghai, continued through Zhejiang, Guangdong, and concluded in Beijing. The delegation toured industry parks, such as SCIP, and engaged with a range of companies—from established companies to SMEs like Kingfa Science and Technology and PhaBuilder —as well as knowledge institutions like South China University of Technology. Additionally, the mission featured various seminars, forums and networking receptions.
Part of the mission was the participation in Pujiang Innovation Forum (PIF), an annual event in Shanghai organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Shanghai Municipal Government. It gathers experts, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to discuss innovation trends and showcase new technologies to foster international collaboration in science and technology.
Together with the National Innovation Center par Excellence (NICE), the Netherlands Innovation Network organised the Sino-Dutch Green Chemistry and Circular Plastics Forum during PIF, bringing together Dutch and Chinese experts to share developments and to connect. There was also the opportunity to highlight the Dutch perspective on the feedstock and applications transition at sub-forums of PIF. Karlo van Dam, Director Sustainable Industry at the Netherlands Ministry of Climate and Green Growth, delivered a keynote speech at the Science and Technology Finance Sub-forum. He shared about the various national growth fund initiatives of the Netherlands to accelerate innovation. Jacqueline Vaessen, Chair at Topteam ChemistryNL, was panelist at the International Synthetic Biology Sub-forum. She elaborated on the different options to make the chemical industry green by replacing fossil-based carbon by carbon based on alternative sources like agricultural side streams.
During the mission programme in Beijing, a seminar was organised by the Netherlands Innovation Network with the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (MOST). It focused on connecting Dutch and Chinese organisations for potential collaborations like public-private partnerships. A diverse group of Chinese knowledge institutes and companies were present to interact with the Dutch delegation.
In his opening speech at the seminar with MOST, Ambassador André Haspels emphasized that to address global challenges like climate change, the Netherlands and China need to further strengthen cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, providing innovative solutions to issues that affect all countries. Various keynote speakers shared the Dutch perspective on the green transition. Karlo van Dam, Director Sustainable Industry at the Netherlands Ministry of Climate and Green Growth, delivered a speech on the sustainable industry policy in the Netherlands expressing the aim to “make large companies green and green companies large”. Sandra Onwijn, Programme Director Circular Economy and Climate & Energy at the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, outlined the Netherlands’ approach to transitioning from a circular economy vision to policy-making and implementation. Jacqueline Vaessen, Chair at Topteam ChemistryNL, underlined the value of international public private partnerships to stimulate innovation.
China is one of the drivers in this shift as the world’s largest producer and consumer of chemical products and plastics. Quality of research and technologies are notably increasing and opportunities for scaling up technologies are present, making collaboration worthwhile to explore to address global challenges together.
The sheer scale of the green transition presents opportunities and challenges for industries, researchers and policymakers all around the world. The Netherlands and China can find each other in collaboration to address global climate challenges. In 2023, an MoU on science and technology cooperation was signed between the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Netherlands Ministry of Education and Science and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology. Jointly exploring solutions in green chemistry and circular plastics are examples of areas to work together.
The mission was organised by the Netherlands Innovation Network in China, ChemistryNL and RVO, with support of the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth, and Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
