DSM, a global science-based company active in materials, nutrition and health, has signed a transfer agreement with the University of Amsterdam to purchase the patent and all the associated Intellectual Property (IP) rights for a new catalyst.
The agreement also comprises a five year joint project to advance the catalyst technology for use in DSM’s production operations.
The catalyst has been developed by Dr. Raveendran Shiju, a scientist at the University’s Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences. The technology contributes to eco-friendly, green developments by considerably minimizing the amount of catalyst generated. The novel catalyst is ideal for sustainable or green industrial processes to produce fine chemicals, pharmaceutical intermediates and polymers.
Prof. Gadi Rothenberg, who leads the Heterogeneous Catalysis and Sustainable Chemistry group at the University of Amsterdam, stated that along with DSM, the novel catalyst will be tested on a pilot scale. DSM expects that the partnership with the University will help to enhance the efficiency of its operations and to increase opportunities for application development and market entry.