Argent Energy is a European waste-based biodiesel producer with a vision to help decarbonize transport worldwide. With more than 200 employees, the company is consistently investing to innovate products, technologies and operational excellence. Argent Energy is expanding the production plant in Amsterdam, to reach a total of 540,000 tons of biodiesel capacity per year, only from this location.
ChemistryNL is the name of the Top Sector Chemistry and operates according to the innovation policy of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate. This organization works together with businesses, research institutes and government to promote knowledge and innovations. They finance Public-Private Partnerships, offer support to startups and help talent development in the Chemistry sector.
The Matrix Innovation Centers are multi-tenants buildings with state-of-the-art office facilities and laboratories, located at the heart of Amsterdam Science Park. Matrix IC is home of 85 companies, of which more than 50% have their business rooted in Chemistry, Biotech and Life Sciences.
The Port of Amsterdam is the 4th biggest port of Europe, home of several big chemical companies: for example, it is one of the largest biorefinery clusters in Europe. The Port wants to play a leading role in the energy transition of the region. To do so, it reserves space, invest in infrastructures and initiate joint projects to support circular and sustainable businesses.
The University of Amsterdam, with ~40 000 students, is steadily ranked among the best 100 universities in the world and best 10 in Europe. The department of Chemistry (HIMS) houses roughly 200 researchers producing 200 publications, 20 PhD theses and 4 patents on an annual average. One of the four priority areas of research is Chemistry for Sustainability, next to Complex Systems and Materials, and Biomolecular Systems.
With ~30 000 students, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is the second largest university of Amsterdam. The VU Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences department has 105 FTE of researchers, attracting ~8.2 M €/y funding. The department boasts cutting-edge equipment, strong collaborations with the pharmaceutical industry, and great expertise in Drug Discovery and Development, Theoretical Chemistry and Bioanalytical Chemistry.
Seaborough is a R&D company that develops and commercializes innovations in LED technology. The company introduced the TLED technology that can replace fluorescent tubes, and it is currently researching and developing new materials for the LED lighting market. Seaborough’s team includes technicians, physicists, and chemical engineers who are working in one of Europe's best-equipped and most modern LED testing facilities.