Research collaboration for green manufacturing systems

A research alliance has recently been announced between the University of Queensland’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) and The Dow Chemical Company.

According to AIBN director, Prof Peter Gray, the partnership will focus on two key areas: bio-mimicry and developing new manufacturing systems using bio-feedstocks.

“Escalating oil costs and concerns about carbon dioxide emissions make it imperative to develop new manufacturing processes based on renewable substrates rather than diminishing fossil fuels,” he said.

“Scientific advances in the biosciences have enabled researchers to genetically reprogram bacteria to produce the chemical building blocks of the future.

“AIBN’s research excellence in cell biology and metabolism, as well as polymer chemistry structure and function, make an ideal fit with Dow’s position at the forefront of sustainable chemistries.”

The alliance is expected to “deliver new materials and processes capable of producing desired molecules from renewable resources, in a cost-effective manner achieving long-term benefits for the consumer”.