From Fossil Resources to Biomass: A Business and Economics Perspective

Course Description

Embark on an exciting journey towards a sustainable future with our course "From Fossil Resources to Biomass: A Business and Economics Perspective." This advanced-level course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to lead the transition from a fossil-based economy to a thriving biobased economy. You'll explore innovative ways to produce food, chemicals, and energy carriers using microorganisms and catalysts, focusing on the crucial end of the supply chain - marketing and selling biobased products within profitable business models.

What students will learn from the course

  • The concept and importance of the biobased economy and biobased products
  • Assessment of sustainability issues in biobased cases
  • Implementation of consumer perspectives in biobased product development
  • Commercial, financial, and organizational aspects of running a biobased business
  • Complexity of logistics in biobased value chains
  • Economic implications of regulations on the future of the biobased economy
  • Improved understanding of relevant disciplines and interdisciplinary communication

Pre-requisites or skills necessary to complete the course

  • BSc in technology, engineering, or applied sciences
  • BSc level knowledge in chemistry, mathematics, and process engineering

What the course will cover

  • Introduction to biobased sciences
  • Achieving sustainability
  • Consumer behavior
  • Business strategies in the biobased economy
  • Logistics and supply chains
  • Economics and regulations in the biobased sector

Who this course is for

This course is ideal for professionals and aspiring leaders in industries such as:

  • (Bio)chemical industry
  • Agrifood water companies
  • Energy producers
  • Logistics
  • Related (non-)governmental organizations

It's also perfect for those looking to advance their careers and gain cutting-edge academic knowledge in creating a more sustainable biobased future.

How learners can use these skills in the real world

The skills acquired in this course will enable learners to:

  • Develop and market sustainable biobased products
  • Assess and improve the sustainability of existing processes
  • Create effective consumer-oriented strategies for biobased products
  • Design and optimize biobased supply chains
  • Navigate regulatory landscapes in the biobased economy
  • Contribute to the transition from fossil-based to biobased industries
  • Communicate effectively across disciplines in the biobased sector

Syllabus

1. Achieving Sustainability

  • True meaning of sustainability
  • Link between sustainability issues and human activities
  • Analysis of sustainability factors in biobased products

2. Consumer Behaviour

  • Challenges in moving towards a biobased economy
  • Consumer product evaluation
  • Influence of communication strategies on consumer perception
  • Implementing consumer perspectives in product development

3. Business

  • Transforming biobased products into winning business cases
  • Commercial, financial, and organizational aspects
  • Stakeholder management
  • Innovation activities for sector transformation

4. Logistics

  • Biobased supply chain understanding
  • Network design and geographical allocation of processing steps
  • Key questions: where to produce, how to transport, where to process

5. Macro-economics and Regulation

  • Economic basis for government regulations
  • Implications for the biobased economy
  • Private sector responses
  • Economic foundations for regulatory policies from different perspectives

This course is part of the MicroMasters Program in Chemistry and Technology for Sustainability, offering a comprehensive education in the biobased economy and its practical applications.