Industrial synthetic processes to manufacture daily-life chemicals comprise concatenated steps, often using petroleum-based raw materials. In the current production pipeline, all steps are material-, energy-, time- and space-intensive, and require the cumbersome isolation and purification of reaction intermediates between steps, producing significant waste. Moreover, synthetic processes are often conducted at severe conditions (temperature, pH), leading to poor selectivity and by-product formation, challenging product purification. Hence, chemical industries are in the quest of more sustainable methodologies to produce our daily-used chemicals.
INTERfaces goal was to design, and technically implement, heterogeneous (chemo)enzymatic cell-free cascades with high productivity, that can contribute to a more sustainable chemical industry. Biogenic raw materials were employed for the generation of different platform chemicals, monomers, and novel polymers. The scientific focus lay on designing and combining multi-functional heterogeneous (bio)catalysts while improving their robustness, and spatial orientation, and matching the process requirements for products with diverse applications e.g. bioplastics, antioxidants, surfactants, fungicides, etc. To meet this goal, INTERfaces leveraged complementary expertise in material science, surface chemistry, protein engineering, (bio)catalysis, and process engineering, with strong participation of industrial partners.
INTERfaces has trained 14 doctoral candidates with methodologies expected to generate a cost reduction in biocatalytic processes while gaining sustainability impact. Close interaction between academia and industry has resulted crucial to qualify these young scientists to take over decision-making positions within the European Biotech Sector and make a difference in sustainability and Bioeconomy.
INTERfaces focused on material science, molecular biology, organic chemistry, biocatalysis, and process engineering, with interdisciplinary research covering key enabling technologies. INTERfaces created a network of previously distant research and industrial areas, namely material science and biotechnology, leading to innovations in both fields. To benefit from this progress, however, financing for efficient knowledge transfer into marketable products must be secured, and the legislative framework must be adapted. For that to happen, well-educated doctoral candidates whose skills serve as role models for the bioeconomy are needed. Furthermore, production and resource use could shift to a higher level of sustainability since biotechnology is part of "green chemistry" and the "circular economy". To this aim, the availability of specially trained experts with interdisciplinary and intersectoral education is a prerequisite. INTERfaces has consciously worked towards those premises, and the 14 doctoral candidates have been trained to be the “Leaders of Change”. Their role is pivotal in creating a ground-breaking shift in society towards sustainability goals and gender balance.
Innovation and scientific and technological objectives:
i) Integrate material science, protein engineering, (bio)catalysis, and process engineering, to deliver highly efficient syntheses with emphasis on sustainability and economics.
ii) Investigate molecular properties of enzymes and carriers, from nano- to large-scale, to match demands of specific synthetic applications and for the development of tailored co-immobilized catalysts, focusing on using renewable inexpensive carriers.
iii) Improve enzyme stability challenges by immobilization, solve the incompatibility by smart compartmentalization, and deliver efficient multi-catalysts by co-immobilization.
iv) Establish research alliances among industries from the Biotech and Material sector for a successful inter-sectoral transfer.
Training objectives:
i) Deliver highly integrated scientific and technical know-how in materials, biocatalysis, and process engineering along with soft skills thanks to a multidisciplinary and intersectoral environment and training agenda – courses and workshops – that gathers leading universities and research institutions with founders of high-tech start-ups and SMEs.
ii) PhD supervision by a well-balanced PI team, dedicated workshops on gender diversity, and active industrial participation to keep a practical focus throughout the entire INTERfaces.
