International workshop "Photosynthesis: from Science to Industry"

The aim of this workshop is to strengthen European research and the agrofood/biotechnology sector via:

· Presentation of selected topics from state-of-the-art photosynthesis research, applied photosynthesis research and commercial applications

· Discussion on the limitations and pitfalls in applied photosynthesis research and on the efficacy of knowledge transfer between science and industry (publish and perish?)

· Identification of knowledge transfer gaps

The workshop is meant for participants from science (young and experienced researchers), industry (consultancies, research labs, product developers), governments and funding organizations (research policy makers). The workshop will consist of the following sessions: role of photosynthesis in primary production, state-of-the-art in photosynthesis research (light and dark reactions, plants and algae), applied photosynthesis research, valorisation strategies (including theory and examples, innovation strategies, IPR and investing in innovation) and photosynthesis in industry. During the workshop there will be hands-on demonstrations from industry, poster sessions, a poster/talk prize for young participants and excursions to relevant industries in the Netherlands.
The workshop will be followed by a short course “from science to society” (starting during the workshop followed by two full course days at 15 and 16 October) for master and PhD students and post-docs (from the Harvest and BioSolar Cells programs and elsewhere), focused on how to extrapolate science to the ‘big picture’. Using information gathered at the workshop as example, relationships with essential societal issues (agronomy, agriculture, environmental issues, energy) are explored and used to sensitise the researchers to the entrepreneurial state of mind (e.g., to design projects). The students will conclude this course by writing a business plan that will be evaluated by experts.

The workshop will be held in the congress center "NH Conference centre The Leeuwenhorst" in Noordwijkerhout.

The organizing committee