Catalysis is an important contributor to the success of many large Dutch companies. In fact, the concentration of Chemical companies employing catalysis combined with a number of world-class university research groups has led to the Dutch School of Catalysis. Chemical industry and university research on catalysis cooperate in a number of ways. Virtually the embodiment of the Dutch School of Catalysis is NIOK, the Dutch Institute for Research on Catalysis. More than 30 full professors (supervising approximately 150 Ph.D. and postgraduate students) and 30 postdoctoral scientists are participating in this Institute. An Industrial Advisory Board (called VIRAN) ensures that NIOK's scientific program is of general industrial relevance.

NIOK aims to gain new knowledge of catalysis and to design new catalysts which should benefit both process industry and energy production. Main targets are clean and more efficient use of fossil fuel and raw materials and clean and more efficient processes for both bulk and fine chemicals including polymeric materials.

More details on NIOK can be found on www.niok.nl

VIRAN

VIRAN (Association of Industrial Advisory Council Members of the Dutch Institute for Catalysis Research) is an association formed to promote the interests of industrial companies involved in catalysis, both as producers and users. It does this particularly by:

• coordination of the industrial influence on and encouragement of relevant education and research in the field of catalysis;
• urging the interests of catalyst-producing and catalyst-using industry towards Government and funding bodies, acting as the Dutch catalysis industry platform.

The following companies are represented in VIRAN:

• Albemarle Catalysts
• Avantium Technologies BV
• BASF
• DOW
• DSM NV
• ExxonMobil Chemical Europe
• Johnson Matthey
• Norit
• SABIC Europe
• Sasol
• Shell International Chemicals BV

More information about VIRAN, and its activities on www.viran.nl.

ACTS

ACTS is the Dutch platform for collaborative pre-competitive research in areas where catalysis plays an important role. Universities and other knowledge centers work in close cooperation with the industry in ACTS and the platform enjoys the financial support of the Dutch government.

It is the mission of ACTS to embody the aspiration of these partners to initiate and support the development of new technological concepts for the sustainable production of materials and energy carriers, essential for the supply of food, comfort, health, shelter and mobility to the inhabitants of tomorrow's world. Through its activities ACTS will contribute to the sustainable economic growth and to the knowledge infrastructure in the Netherlands, and attract young talent to a career in science and technology.

By the allocation of over 110 million EURO research effort for the next five to six years, ACTS sets the agenda for applied catalysis research in the Netherlands. More information about ACTS, its research programmes and its other activities on www.acts-nwo.nl.