FAQ

Certainly! The Green Chemistry Campus offers both flexible workplaces and fully equipped offices.

Flex: all facilities on a flexible basis

• Flexible workplace in the Campus Innovation Center.
• Your logo on the wall in the Campus Innovation Center.

Business: the Campus as your representative location

• Your own office in the Campus Innovation Center.
• The Campus as your formal location: postal address, logo at entrance & on the wall.

Benefits

Companies that establish themselves on the Campus benefit from the following advantages:

• Representative, light and sustainably furnished workspaces.
• Fully equipped meeting rooms.
• Free parking with free electric charging.
• A fully equipped kitchen.
• Located on a chemical site that is fully equipped to scale up biobased innovations, in terms of infrastructure, permits and possibilities.
• All the benefits of the community membership.

Would you like to see the spaces with your own eyes? Please feel free to contact us for a guided tour.

Members of the Green Chemistry Campus Community can gain access to a range of specialized laboratories for upscaling biobased innovations. Not only at the Campus itself, but also at partners in the region with whom we work closely together.

The Green Chemistry Campus has a process laboratory at its disposal where experiments can be carried out within fume hoods and in laboratory setups. You can rent office space and/or a flex desk to enable you to immediately process the results of your experiments. In addition, you can also receive support in the areas of finance, marketing and technology. And if you want to scale up your innovations even further, you can use our new demo area as from the end of 2018.

Specifically, you can access the following research facilities via the Campus:

• Raw material analysis: Instrumental, Wet chemical
• Analysis of reaction products: Instrumental, Wet chemical
• Polymer characterization
• Polymer testing
• Fiber characterization
• Microbiology
• Elemental analysis 
• Microscopy
• Paper testing

More information

Would you like to know more about the laboratories of the Green Chemistry Campus and its partners? Please contact us for a free introductory meeting including a guided tour.

Photos: SABIC Innovative Plastics Bergen op Zoom

Certainly! Companies that establish themselves on the Campus have already proven that their idea for a biobased product works on a small scale. On the Campus they want to elaborate on this idea and prove that their product can also be produced on a larger scale with a constant quality.

From the late summer of 2018 you can use the brand-new sustainable Demo Area of the Campus.

Demo: all facilities for upscaling your bio-based innovation

• Your own space in the demo facility of the Campus.
• Workplaces near your installations.
• An operator on request that helps you with your processes.
• Environmental permit for agreed activities.
• All the benefits of the community membership.

Artist impression of the new Demo Area

More information

Would you like to know more about the services and facilities that the Green Chemistry Campus (in the demo area) offers to scale up bio-based innovations? Then please contact us.

Members of the Green Chemistry Campus Community have access to an extensive network of coaches and experts on favorable terms. The campus has made a carefull selection of experts based on demonstrable affinity and experience with the subject of biobased chemistry and has made special agreements. In this way, you are assured of the best possible match. Below an overview is presented of coaches and experts that Green Chemistry Campus Community Members can use via the Campus.

IP advice

• patenting
• legally put IP in a separate company
• ...

Legal advice

• organizational forms
• contracts
• non-disclosure agreement (NDA)
• ...

Advice on effective product-market combinations

• choosing the right market focus
• pricing of sustainable products
• market (introduction) of sustainable products
• ...

Advice about insurance

• liability
• risk
• ...

Advice on financing

• creating a sound business case
• connecting with a network of financiers
• choice for (type of) investor
• succesfull pitching
• ...

Technology coach

• carry out and interpret product & process analysis
• pros and cons of different technologies
• content advice in areas such as lignin, pyrolysis or PLA
• R & D protocols
• ...

Subsidy advice

• what subsidies are available?
• which subsidy scheme is (not) interesting for you and why?
• do's & don'ts when applying for a subsidy
• ...

Marketing coach

• positioning with respect to competitors
• profiling in the market
• effective PR including social media
• ...

HR advice

• mediation in the deployment of trainees, operators and research assistants
• ...

Advice in the field of legislation and regulations

• LCA (recyclability, lifespan)
• health
• CO2
• process safety
• logistics (transport & storage of biomass)
• ...

Entrepreneurship coach

• mission, vision, strategy
• business development plan
• finding a launching customer
• ...

This overview is not exhaustive; in consultation with you we consult our network and connect you with the right person.

More information

Would you like to know more about a membership of the Green Chemistry Campus Community and / or the above services? Please contact us.

Would you like to know more about a membership of the Green Chemistry Campus Community? Please contact us.

Companies that are members of the Green Chemistry Campus Community benefit from the following benefits:

• Listing of your organization name + logo on the Campus website.
• Two coaching sessions of your choice: financing, entrepreneurship, technology or marketing.
• Online Community with library & marketplace with supply and demand.
• Free access to private events & weekly networking lunch.
• Representative meeting rooms + access to facilities and services (both paid).
• Internal Campus Updates & access to the extensive Campus network.
• Professional support to bring your news to the attention of journalists.

At the Green Chemistry Campus in Bergen op Zoom, entrepreneurs, governments and knowledge institutes are working on scaling up new, sustainable materials and chemicals for the building materials and packaging industry. Renewable raw materials such as elephant grass, gft and wood residues form the basis for this.

The campus offers members of the Green Chemistry Campus Community access to not only facilities such as laboratories, a demo area and office space, but also to support in the areas of financing, marketing and technology.

Companies that establish themselves on the Campus have already proven that their idea for a biobased product works on a small scale. On the Campus they want to elaborate on this idea and prove that their product can also be produced on a larger scale with a constant quality.

Does this sound like the ideal location for your company? Please contact us for a free introductory meeting including a guided tour.

Please read the Green Chemistry Campus Brochure online (.pdf)

Initiators

Partners and initiators of the Green Chemistry Campus include the Province of Noord-Brabant, the municipality of Bergen op Zoom, SABIC and the regional development company NV REWIN West-Brabant. The Green Chemistry Campus is located on the SABIC site in Bergen op Zoom. SABIC is the 'Saudi Basic Industries Corporation', one of the world's leading producers of chemicals, fertilizers, plastics and metals. 

The Green Chemistry Campus is an initiative of SABIC, Province of North Brabant, the municipality of Bergen op Zoom and NV REWIN West Brabant. The latter 3 participate in the Campus. 

Besides the Green Chemistry Campus Community Members, we've got a dedicated team that's keen to help you. 

Petra Koenders - Directeur Green Chemistry Campus

I see it as my task to develop the Campus into a facility that is connected to its environment and that supports market developments. The campus also helps to shape the transition to a biobased society (part of the circular economy). We facilitate large and small companies that develop green chemical building blocks for the construction, packaging, coatings and colors markets.

My motivation comes from the fact that I am convinced that a facility such as the Campus is necessary.

My life motto is the lemniscate - you always have to balance yourself. I am constantly learning in life, but do not live a boring life nor do I shy away from a challenge. That is why I am first and foremost myself, but also a wife, a mother and a professional / friend / girlfriend.

Eva-Lisa Janssen - Operations Manager

Naturally I am responsibale for all operational issues, but also all matters that have to do with our tennants fall under my responsibility.  I also like to be involved with the community and to make the connection between biobased SME entrepreneurs and knowledge institutions.

The world is in transition: from a gray to a greener world. I strongly believe in this positive change. The biobased economy is one of the first steps to make a greener difference. We connect, motivate and inspire on the Campus. In this way we help the biobased movement  a step forward.

Motto: everything seems impossible until it is done for the first time.

Peter van der Ham - Business Development Manager

In addition to the acquisition of parties (starters, research institutions and companies), I am involved in the development of green projects that fit within the focus of the GCC. This is often something that involves consultation with several parties and therefore requires a long breath.

After a green start as a biotechnologist in the early 80s, I have been allowed to work in the petrochemical industry for 35 wonderful years. In recent years I have been working on green chemistry, a new field and a great challenge to pass on to young chemists and chemical technologists.

Motto: Seize the day and work on the future.

Tyrrell Israel - Junior Acquisition Manager

In addition to my work for the Green Chemistry Campus, I am in the process of starting up my own company within the biobased economy. As a newly graduated chemical technologist at Avans University of Applied Sciences with a passion for technology, I am certainly in for a path full of challenges!

I discovered the opportunity to work for the Campus during my study and was almost immediately sold. I think the Campus will definitely challenge me to take up the work with pleasure and passion. In addition, I am thrilled to work in the fields of sustainability, innovation and connection through collaborations!

Corné van Loenhout - Business Consultant

Although I am only 50, I recently celebrated my 30-year business anniversary. In these decades I've seen it all. Entrepreneurship is rightly intriguing and dynamic and in my opinion the most underestimated profession in the world. In recent years I have been active as a biobased entrepreneur and have therefore added internationalization to my expertise.

I have a strong preference for the basic principles of the Cradle to Cradle philosophy. A correct application of renewable raw materials, responsible water and energy use and respect for our environment in the broadest sense of the word. At the moment I am working on the transition of the printing industry (linear is circular) and I do this with my company Shepart Circular Printing. My strength lies in my network, the natural need to be helpful and my hands-on mentality when it comes to personal and business development.

Are you a (starting) (biobased) entrepreneur and do you have a question about the development of your company or product? Please call me; I'd be happy to help! 

Cees Hamelink - Advisor

I am currently working on setting up laboratory services on the Campus and developing an environmental care and safety management system. In addition, I am a consultant in the field of lignin valorization.

I really enjoy being involved in activities related to the switch from petro based to renewable based and I am pleased with the amount of activities that are going on in that area in the southwest of the Netherlands.

Motto: try to think in solutions or directions for solutions and do not stick to the problem.

Emke Mol - Marketing & Communicatie Manager

From the positioning of the Campus to the co-development of services, from organizing events to PR and from stakeholder management to social media. In short, I am responsible for everything that has to do with MarCom. Not only for the Campus, but also for the Shared Research Center Biorizon that is located on the Campus.

On the Campus, everything I value is present: sustainability, innovation, entrepreneurship, enthusiasm and a genuine drive to make a difference.

Motto: love it, eat it, beat it or leave it; love what you do and what you love.

No, the Campus facilitates entrepreneurs to scale up biobased innovations.

The campus offers not only facilities such as laboratories, a demo area and office space, but also support in the area of ​​financing, marketing and technology.

The term biobased refers to agricultural waste streams such as sugar beet leaves, potato peel, or corn waste, which are used as raw materials for the production of sustainable chemicals and materials. Biobased raw materials can be used as an alternative to fossil raw materials, such as oil. Many products around us are made of oil derivatives: from plastic bottles to styrofoam and from CDs to shoe soles. However, oil is becoming scarcer and more expensive, and when it is burnt, the greenhouse gas CO2 is emitted. Therefore, it is not surprising that biobased alternatives are being embraced. For example, plastic can also be made from agricultural waste streams besides oil. Biomass contains sugars, fiber, lignocellulose (the substance that gives plants their firmness) or lignin (the substance that gives firmness to wood), which are the raw material ingredients for biobased materials, chemicals, and coatings.