Chemical Cluster Emmen green chemport of Europe

Chemical Cluster Emmen the green chemport of Europe? Absolutely! Traditionally, Drenthe has a strong chemical industry and is at the forefront of innovation. Chemical Cluster Emmen has been focusing for many years on high-tech development and the production of polymers, composites, fibres and yarns and is the largest industrial centre of the North of the Netherlands. With its 120 hectares, the emmtec Industry & Business Park is one of the largest chemical level 6 sites in the Netherlands and provides perfect access to Germany, Scandinavia and the Baltic States. Rotterdam, Amsterdam and the Groningen Eemshaven are surprisingly nearby. And because education and entrepreneurs work together, Chemical Cluster Emmen is the knowledge hub for innovation and applied research into green fibre chemistry. So Chemical Cluster Emmen can proudly call itself the green chemport of Europe!

               

Our focus

A bio-based circular economy: an economy based on green raw materials implemented on the basis of a circular concept. Chemical Cluster Emmen is convinced that this is the only way to achieve a sustainable future and is working hard on this new economy. The focus is on (fibre) chemistry and recycling & upcycling. Based on this strong focus, entrepreneurs, knowledge institutions and governments in the cluster make every effort to excel in producing (green) materials for the manufacturing industry and the construction and infrastructure sector. Good for the future, for employment and for the bio-based and circular possibilities that Chemical Cluster Emmen offers. Chemical Cluster Emmen is a strategic partner of Chemport Europe. The incubator for green chemistry in the North of the Netherlands.

Within Chemical Cluster Emmen we are successfully working on a bio-based and circular (fiber) chemistry sector with an emphasis on the manufacturing industry, construction and infrastructure. Chemical Cluster Emmen focuses on these sectors, because they have always been strongly represented in this region, but more importantly because these sectors are focused on applications and products with a high added value for the economy. The video below shows how we do this in Drenthe. Green is our second nature!

A European top player in green chemistry

Chemical Cluster Emmen plays an important role within the European Chemicals sector. Several entrepreneurs have united within the SUSPACC business network and are now members of the European Bio-based Industries Constorium (BIC).

The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) is the private partner of the European Commission (EC) in the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU). A public-private partnership that is driven by the industry. The members are industrial entrepreneurs (large and small) and academics. The purpose of the BBI JU is to establish an effective biobased industry in Europe. The European Commission supports this, in addition to giving advice, with a financial injection of almost 1 billion euros up to and including 2020.

Website: BIC

 

Excels in bio-based composites and polymers

Chemical Cluster Emmen is doing well in the field of green fiber chemistry. This also stood out at the national government and the VNCI, the industry association for the chemical industry. The region has therefore been declared official hotspot for (fiber) chemistry in the Netherlands. The developments at Chemical Cluster Emmen are very promising. The cluster excels in biobased and circular composites and polymers and in the reuse of residual flows for recycling and upcycling.

An excellent base for entrepreneurs

Chemical Cluster Emmen is number 1 in Europe when it comes to specialised fibre chemistry. Ever since the 1950s, many companies operating in the plastics processing industry have been concentrated in Emmen. As a result of the arrival of companies such as AKU (General Rayon Union) the village of Emmen has quickly grown into a city. The progress slowed down a little in the 1970s, but by 2016 the plastics processing industry had made a full recovery. And that is not surprising. Emmen is very favourably situated in Europe, it offers the right facilities (e.g. the emmtec Industry & Business Park), has a knowledge network with people specialised in plastics at an MBO, HBO and university level and nationally the clusters region scores in the top 3 locations in terms of livability, living environment and business climate.
In addition, the region has about 22,000 hectares of agricultural land in its backyard that is rich in raw materials for the fibre chemistry. With this in mind, the Province of Drenthe and the Municipality of Emmen are actively contributing to further strengthening and reinforcing this favourable climate. For instance by providing assistance to innovation assignments from local entrepreneurs, offering support with regard to questions about funding, contributing to building a network and by opening the door to the EU. The provincial and municipal authorities also work together in order to ensure a smooth licensing process.

Another, not inconsiderable advantage of the cluster is the close connection with North and East Overijssel and the presence of a strong and extensive manufacturing industry. The cluster offers opportunities, for instance, with regard to cooperation between SMEs and multinationals. In addition, there are excellent connections with Northern Europe. The cluster is situated close to the main trading countries such as Germany, the Baltic States and Scandinavia. In short, entrepreneurs who want to do business in green chemistry, particularly polymers, composites, fibres and yarns, will find everything they need in Chemical Cluster Emmen.