Podium discussion

Round table discussion:
Circular Bio economy; Sustainable Usability of the Biomass
20. Chemietage 2024
Graz University of Technology

Different aspects about the circular Bioeconomy, renewable resources and plastic recycling will be addresses. Aspects from academia, industry and EU commission will be discussed and future education changes on this field presented. Here is some detail about our panelists for the podium discussion.

Univ. Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Karin Stana Kleinschek

Karin Stana Kleinschek

Affiliation/function: Vice Head of the Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Bio based systems, Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Chemical and Process Engineering and Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria.

Expertise- and interests- related keywords: Bio polymers, polysaccharides, bio materials, 3D printing, surface functionalization

Round Table role: Moderator, KSK will address the need to discuss about the future the natural resources harvesting and use

Short introduction of the Panellist: Karin Stana Kleinschek, obtained PhD degree from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the University of Graz, Austria. Karin Stana Kleinschek led more than 15 years the Institute of the Engineering Materials and design and the Laboratory for Processing and Characterization of Polymers LCPP at University of Maribor, Slovenia and is from 2020 a Head/Vice Head of the Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Bio Based Systems, Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Chemical and Process Engineering and Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology.

Dr. Nineta Hrastelj

Nineta Hrastelj

Affiliation/function: European Chemical Society (EuChemS), Secretary General

Expertise- and interests-related keywords: science, policy, implementation, European Union, education

Round table role: NH will address implementation aspect of the relevant EU legislation and related documents.

Short introduction of the Panellist:

Nineta Hrastelj finished her PhD across analytical chemistry, measurement science and computational chemistry at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, almost exactly thirty years ago. She’s been working in academia, chemical industry, and at research institutes in Slovenia and of the European Commission in Belgium, where she got experience in science-policy matters. Since 2011 she is the Secretary General of the European Chemical Society (EuChemS), an overarching association of chemical societies in Europe. She also lectures on topics from her field of expertise.

Statement: “Implementation of any EU legal framework across Member States is a challenge, which shall be addressed – at least to a certain extent – during legislative process, while other than EU countries shall also be screened for their potential legislation in this respect. On a longer term, education plays a vital role, as well as values.”

Dr. techn. Silvia Maitz

Silvia Maitz

Affiliation/function: Business Development Manager, GreenTech Solutions Division, BDI-BioEnergy International

Expertise- and interests-related keywords: biorefineries, green tech industrial process scale-up, chemical recycling technologies, biofuels, green hydrogen

Round table role: Industry representative in the field of R&D, scale-up, plant engineering and construction for green tech and circular economy

Short introduction of the Panellist: Silvia Maitz obtained her PhD from the Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology at Graz University of Technology. After five years working on the valorization of pulp-and-paper side streams, she transitioned from academia to become Business Development Manager at BDI-BioEnergy International. In this role, Silvia oversees R&D, scale-up, and green tech projects, supporting start-ups in the development of bio-based products and chemical recycling processes from concept to industrial production.

Statement: “Rapid defossilization of the chemical process industry requires not only innovation, but also a reliable and consistent legal framework and long-term political guidelines. This will give industrial players and investors the incentive to invest in risky or disruptive sustainable technologies in order to drive the defossilization process forward.”

Dr. Jo-Ann Innerlohinger

Jo-Ann Innerlohinger

Affiliation/function: Lenzing AG, Head of Funding, Monitoring & PMO

Expertise- and interests-related keywords: funding, circularity, bio-economy, defossilisation, cellulose

Round table role: industrial view on Circular Bio economy; Sustainable Usability of the Biomass incl. challenges and opportunities)

Short introduction of the Panellist:

Study of chemistry at the University of Graz, Austria
Since 2005: Lenzing AG, various positions within R&D
- currently Head of Funding & Monitoring
Active in several networks and initiatives with focus on sustainability and circularity
- e.g. Renewable Carbon Initiative

Dr. techn. Marlene Kienberger

Marlene Kienberger

Affiliation/function: Deputy Head of the Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Chemical and Process Engineering and Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz

Expertise- and interests-related keywords: biorefineries, green tech industrial processes, downstream processing, efficient separation technologies

Round table role: Teaching representative in the field of chemical engineering, green engineering and circular economy

Short introduction of the Panellist: Marlene Kienberger obtained her PhD from the Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology at Graz University of Technology. After five years in Industry, she came back to TUGraz, where she developed and implemented the English taught master program BioRefinery Engineering. The development and Implementation of the master program was accompanied with the buildup of the working group biorefinery, where basic and advanced Knowledge of biobased process streams is developed.