DSM investigates new catalytic systems

Dutch life science company DSM has entered into a co-operation with technology company Avantium Technologies to discover new and improved catalytic systems relevant to DSM's life sciences business.

Avantium will conduct services relating to high throughput experimentation and simulation methods in order to perform screening experiments related to catalytic systems for the production of specialty chemicals. DSM's initial investment in the project amounts to about €1 million, with further follow-on phases under discussion.

Prof. Emmo Meijer, DSM's chief technology officer, commented: "This collaboration complements our ongoing efforts to develop processes and improve the production of specialty chemicals in our Life Science Products cluster. The high-tech throughput project has a nice fit in the DSM strategy to rank among the world's leading players in the field of Life Sciences and Specialties."​

The company hopes that by using the high throughput screening techniques, provided by Avantium, they will increase and accelerate research output.

High throughput experimentation is an R&D tool in chemical research and deals with methods and concepts aimed at increasing the output of research. This tool can screen a large number of catalysts and/or process conditions on a small scale. Robotics and other automation tools are developed at each step along with advanced informatics and modelling systems.

DSM is active in the fields of life science products, performance materials, polymers and industrial chemicals. The group has annual sales of €8.1 billion.