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foR YeARs, It was impossible to imagine how a chemical industry
could get along without oil. But because of finite deposits,
political uncertainties, and technological advancement, the industry
has given more and more thought to new approaches, and
for some applications, has already developed competitive or even
better alternatives to petrochemical products. Thanks to microorganisms
and enzymes, biotechnological processes increasingly
enable the development of products such as biofuels, polymers
and solvents based on renewable raw materials.
“About ten percent of the world market for chemical products
is now produced with the help of biotechnologically produced
substances,” said Patrik Wohlhauser, the member of the Board
of Evonik Industries AG with responsibility for innovation management,
at the opening of BioTechDay, which was held March
9–10 in Marl. “Evonik now generates about eight percent of its
sales from white biotechnology, with high growth rates.”
Nearly 200 participants at the event learned about the potential
of biotechnology for the chemical industry. There was also
a Product Marketplace, featuring classical biobased products,
such as amino acids and cosmetic active ingredients, as well as
new developments from Evonik, which are already established
in this market. The Group has special expertise in developing
strains, fermentation, and in processing bioproducts.
With its Biotechnology Science-to-Business Center (S2B Bio),
Creavis strategic research and development unit for basic
research activities, and its Biotechnology Area of Competence,
in which Evonik bundles its cross-business-unit biotechnological
know-how, the Group has positioned itself well in these areas.
“The dream of creating a product in a single cell is impossible in
classical chemistry. But thanks to biotechnology, it is becoming
a reality,” said Dr. Thomas Haas, head of the S2B Bio and organizer
of the convention.
With biotechnology Evonik has expanded its technology portfolio
to foster the growth fields of resource efficiency, nutrition
and health, as well as the globalization of technologies. “Our innovation
projects are allowing us to move further and further
into the so-called emerging markets,” said Dr. Peter Nagler, head
of Innovation Management Chemicals & Creavis at Evonik.
Biotechnology requires patience
It took longer for biotechnology to get where it is now than
consultants predicted ten to 15 years ago, when a 25 or even 40
percent share of the world market in 2010 seemed possible. Technological
hurdles, radically altered industrial value-added chains
that called for new partnerships, and market mechanisms for
raw materials meant that companies had to design highly targeted
and flexible biotechnology strategies.
“Theoretically, hundreds of chemicals and plastics can be
man ufactured from renewable raw materials, but up to now,
only a small number actually have,“ added Dr. Hanns Martin
Kaiser, consultant at McKinsey & Company. He described the
reasons for this, and the situation in industrial biotechnology in
his presentation. In the past, bio-related sales were generated
The Product Marketplace at the Evonik BioTechDay
provided material for discussion
BIoteCHnoLoGY 27
mainly in biofuels, plant extracts and natural rubber. “Bio-based
chemicals may be relevant to a broad spectrum of market participants,“
says Kaiser. “But right now, virtually no manufacturer
can cover the value chain alone. This means that partnerships
are essential.“ Kaiser cited five forces driving continued growth
in this sector: cost competitiveness, flexible use of raw materials,
consumer demand, technological innovations, and pressure
from public authorities.
Trend in raw material prices means
substantial planning uncertainty
The costs for biotechnologically manufactured products are increasingly
competitive with those of classical petrochemistry.
“Until now, the prices of crude oil and raw sugar, for example,
haven’t had much to do with each other,” said Kaiser. But this
also means that it is hard to predict when a biotechnological
process will be cheaper than a petrochemical process, 333
elements35 Issue 2|2011