Top Consortium for Knowledge and Innovation in Process Technology On April 2, 2012, Minister Verhagen signed the chemistry sector s innovation contracts, giving the go-ahead for the concrete implementation of the proposed innovation plans for the coming years. Late last year, the Dutch Cabinet asked the chemistry top sector to develop seven innovation contracts for the newly established Top Consortia for Knowledge and Innovation (TKIs). These innovation contracts map out innovation policy for the next several years, from fundamental research through valorization. Tjeerd Jongsma, director of the Institute for Sustainable Process Technology (ISPT), was asked to create a TKI for process technology. This TKI will connect the chemistry, agriculture and food, energy, and biobased economy sectors along the process technology axis, (see figure 1). An equal number of innovation contracts list this TKI as the executive organ for the process technology agenda. Figure 1. Process technology as connection between top sectors After an initial review by several top teams, the innovation contracts were approved by the minister for economic affairs, agriculture and innovation, Maxime Verhagen, and the remaining stakeholders in the chain. Here, a look at how the innovation plans will be concretely implemented. Process technology across the spectrum The TKI Processing contributes to the process industry s sustainability objectives in terms of product value, efficiency, energy savings, and the reduction of emissions through the generation and application of new knowledge in collaborative development and demonstration programs.
We re going to tackle the entire spectrum of process technology: from research projects and other initiatives all the way through valorization, says Jongsma. We re already integrating and working very closely with parties such as the Research School in Process Technology (OSPT), the Dutch Group of Users of Technology for Separation (NL-GUTS), the Netherlands Process Intensification Network (PIN-NL), and World Class Maintenance (WCM). We aspire to tight partnerships with research institutes and universities and valorization platforms such as Plant One. We want to combine all public-private research under one umbrella in the TKI. Different parts are being incorporated step by step into a single organization. Existing agreements and arrangements are being phased out. You ll still be able to recognize the old entities for some time to come. Ultimately, this will result in an organizational structure into which all those parts naturally fit and work together: some will be institutes or foundations, others will be companies. Optimizing performance is the guiding principle. A possible organizational structure is displayed in figure 2. Figure 2. Possible organizational structure for the TKI Processing WCM= World Class Maintenance DDI= Dutch Drying Institute PI= Process intensification The TKI Processing methodology The organization will be built upon ISPT s proven best practices and foundations. The cross-sector TKI Processing will answer process technology questions arising from the agro-food, chemistry, biobased economy, and energy innovation contracts. That allows the connection to the primary drivers from industry in these sectors to unfold naturally. Demand management, the open exchange of knowledge, the use of roadmaps to shape mutual goals, and trust-based networks are the starting points for the TKI s methodology. The TKI provides an environment/ecosystem in which companies can develop process technology innovations more effectively and efficiently than Top Consortium for Knowledge and Innovation in Process Technology 2
they can within their own organizations. With its flexible, agile culture, this TKI is the necessary counterpart to the more controlled, gradual innovation culture found in industry. It creates an organizational bipedalism that makes flexible innovation possible. This organizational principle also supports social innovations in areas such as dynamic management, flexible organization, and attention to talent development, and it effectively converts knowledge into successful new products and processes. Within the framework of its programs, the TKI Processing will evolve into a platform and portal for the process industry, educational institutions, research institutes, knowledge institutes, and centers of excellence (see figure 3). Its goal is to achieve effective valorization and commercially successful innovation in the process industry. The TKI Processing focuses on the professional in the process industry. From a human capital perspective, all efforts are focused on creating the necessary conditions for and generating sufficient availability, and concentrating the required (innovative) competencies and manpower for the process industry. Figure 3. The TKI Processing as platform and portal The program approach The TKI Processing s primary market is the process industry. The ability to work more efficiently (raw materials, energy) and to harness raw materials full potential will strengthen the competitive position of the process industry and the supplying industry, in particular that of SMEs, in these sectors. The activities of the TKI Processing have been grouped into three programs: Resource Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Biobased. These programs are supported by a scientific program, Fundamentals, (see figure 4). Top Consortium for Knowledge and Innovation in Process Technology 3
Figure 4. The TKI Processing s programs This choice of programs and their content offers the opportunity to flexibly embed topics in a structure that can remain fixed for a long period of time while still enhancing the opportunity for cross-sector collaboration. This collaboration more fully leverages the knowledge developed. The roadmaps for these themes will be created using the MJA/MEE. This marks the first direct link between the multi-year agreements (MJAs) and the technology development portfolio. This portfolio will be supported and nourished by a fundamental research program, thereby also expanding our strong knowledge infrastructure. The HCA and the Innovation Academy Toward fulfilling the HCA, the Innovation Academy for process technology will be further developed. The focus here is on self-management and freedom for professionals, an excellent educational and research climate, open innovation skills, and the development of entrepreneurship. The result is an improved balance between supply and demand on the labor market. The academy targets both young and experienced professionals in the process technology sector in order to promote an open innovation culture throughout the community. In close collaboration with the NWO behavioral science team, we are developing interventions to quicken innovation in the sector. Our aim is to make the innovation culture more effective in this inherently and necessarily riskaverse sector. The TKI Processing is working to build a dynamic community for entrepreneurial and professional talent and to strengthen innovative capacity at every level in supply chains and organizations. This community will assist its members in developing themselves professionally and realizing effective innovation. Particular attention will be paid to the development of social intelligence, transition skills, and competencies in scientific subjects. Entrepreneurship, organizational culture, and mental attitude are essential prerequisites for radical innovation and valorization. More rapid implementation A valorization center will be established to support the initial implementations and demonstrations of new technology. The sector s enormous capital intensity currently makes (risky) investments a significant obstacle to implementing (new) energy-saving technology. Top Consortium for Knowledge and Innovation in Process Technology 4
Small and medium-sized high-tech companies play a crucial role in the rapid conversion of knowledge into new commercial processes. Open innovation and the dynamic of spin-offs and spinins will only increase the importance of this role in the future. The link with SMEs is being realized through an SME contact group, technology validation projects (best-practice techno projects ), and SME involvement in roadmap planning and execution. More information is available at www.ispt.eu Top Consortium for Knowledge and Innovation in Process Technology 5