Greeting by Andreas Schmid

Topics for Biotrends 2012 Congress

biocatalysis
synthetic chemical reactions
protein chemistry and biochemistry
bioprocess engineering
sustainable solutions
enzyme discovery
enzyme characterization

Sustainability and the bioeconomy are forming the basis and the frame of industrial biotechnology. Our meeting will focus on specific R&D examples and is aiming at making both buzz words quantitative using high level presentations and discussions as well as giving enough time for personal contacts and interactions.

Case studies were selected from successful projects of the ChemBioTec network (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt), from industry, as well as from academia. Aspects are covering technical, ecological and social dimensions, but we will also touch issues enabling research and innovations as well as ecological efficiency.

On behalf of all organizers, I am happy to invite you to Dortmund at the end of November 2012 – in addition to interesting science, we are proud to present the largest Christmas tree worldwide made of about 1700 individual trees and a pleasant X-mas market in walking distance of our meeting location.

With kind regards,

Andreas Schmid

Greeting words by Ullrich Sierau, Lord Mayor City of Dortmund

Biomedicine and biotechnology are certainly going to be growth sectors for the next few decades. Dortmund recognized this at an early stage and paved the way for developments at this location: Biotechnology is on course for growth. Today, this location counts as one of the most important clusters for biotechnology and biomedical research in Germany.

The “New BioTrends 2012 Sustainable Industrial BioCatalysis” with many renowned national and international scientists is an ideal platform for the scientific as well as the business community to explore the new perspectives and potentials in biocatalysis - the use of enzymes to catalyze synthetic chemical reactions -, which is one of the fastest growing interfacial disciplines.

Ullrich Sierau,

Lord Mayor City of Dortmund

Flyer BioTrends 2012

Today, biocatalysis - the use of enzymes to catalyze synthetic chemical reactions - is one of the fastest growing interfacial disciplines. Exquisite selectivity is combined with mild conditions and the ability to tailor the biocatalyst to specific needs. In recent years academic research in biocatalysis has made great scientific developments at the interface of protein chemistry, biochemistry, protein expression as well as bioprocess engineering. Industrial interest is also high since new opportunities from renewable feedstocks to selective catalysis for pharmaceuticals will all involve biocatalytic processes to some extent.

Holistic approaches are essential to resolve conflicting aims between these fields of action, to give equal consideration to environmental, economic and social issues, and for these to be integrated in terms of sustainable solutions.

The conference aims to bring together the worlds leading academic and industrial researchers in the field of biocatalysis for lectures and discussions in the latest developments in the areas of enzyme discovery, enzyme characterization, biocatalyst design as well as reaction and bioprocess engineering. All attendees are expected to contribute to the meeting, either by an oral or a poster presentation.