The Next Generation Bio-Based Chemicals Summit takes place on February 8-10, 2010 in San Diego, CA.

The conference will bring together the value chain for drop-in and new chemicals derived from cellulosics?, algae, waste streams? & CO2. The conference taps into the growing shift toward bio-based chemical products?. It examines how global chemical strategic companies are making bets, venture cash is flowing, and government support is available. However, as an entirely new industry is created, new relationships must be forged.

The summit will cover:
* What conditions will be required for these cross-sectoral relationships to prosper?
* What are the key technical, organizational, economic and financial challenges?
* What types of deals and relationships are needed going forward?

Conference Advisory Board
Cynthia Bryant, Marketing Manager - Global Fuels, Novozymes North America
Steve W. Burton, Biorefinery Technology Leader, The Center for Packaging Innovation?, Meadwestvaco
John Ellersick, Succinic Acids Program Manager, Myriant Technologies?
Keith Gillard, Principal, BASF Venture Capital?
Jonathon Gorham, Manager Business Development, Qteros?
Douglas Hawkins, Program Manager, Emerging Technologies, DOW Chemical?
Michael Manella, Scientist II, Archer Daniels Midland?
Steve Meller, Chief Innovation Catalyst, Procter and Gamble?
Jonathan Wolfson, Chief Executive Officer, Solazyme?

The conference agenda is as follows:

Monday, February 8th
Tuesday, February 9th
Session I: Enabling the Growth of a Bio-Based Chemicals Industry

Partnering for the Growth of a Bio-Based Chemicals Industry

Session II: Market-Makers Assess the Emerging Bio-Based Chemicals Value Chain

The Oil Price Horizon

Perspectives of Petrochem Refiners and Major Bio-Processors on the Bio-Based Chemicals Value Chain

Session III: Demand Side Perspectives on Bio-Based Chemicals
?

Overview of Retailer Scorecards, End-of-Life Infrastructure Issues and Environmental Regulations that Impact Biopolymer Packaging

A Consumer Language for Bioproducts: The Quest of a Designer and a Marketer to Understand How to Effectively Connect the Value of Sustainable Products to the End Market

Session IV: BioBased Products, Applications and Scaling Hurdles

Part 1
?
Part 2

Session V: Project Development and Retooling Existing Biorefineries

Perspectives of Biorefinery Owners and Developers on the Bio-Based Chemicals Value Chain

Session VI: Feedstock and Logistics Considerations in the Growth of a Bio-Based Chemicals Industry

Perspectives of Feedstock Suppliers on the Bio-based Chemicals Value Chain and Market Prospects

Session VII: Catalyzing the Value Chain with Equity and Government Support

Panel Discussion: Venture Investors’ Perspectives

CONFERENCE AGENDA

February 8th
Pre-Summit Symposium: Innovative Platforms for Biomass-to-Chemicals Conversion

Tuesday, February 9th

8:00-8:15 Chair: David Quinby, Member, Stoel Rives?

Session I: Enabling the Growth of a Bio-Based Chemicals Industry

8:15-9:15 Panel Discussion:
Partnering for the Growth of a Bio-Based Chemicals Industry
* What do collaborative arrangements in this emerging segment look like (government with private, corporate with start-up)?
* What does government expect from industry and what can it offer?
* What do corporations, government and start-ups expect from each other and offer in return?
* What are some of the bigger points of contention between partners?
Moderator: Jennifer Hannesschlager, Partner, Tiber Creek Partners?
Panelists:
Mark Bunger, Research Director, Lux Research?
Roger Conway, Director, Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, USDA
Douglas Faulkner, President & Cofounder, Chrysalis Energy Partners?
Leslie Pezzullo, Biochemical Conversion Technology Manager, Biomass Program, US DOE
Rina Singh, Director, Policy, BIO?

Session II: Market-Makers Assess the Emerging Bio-Based Chemicals Value Chain

9:15-9:45 Panel Discussion:
The Oil Price Horizon
* What are some of the scenarios market makers are looking at in terms of oil price behavior on the “bumpy plateau”?
* How much volatility do they expect, and what are the more probable price ranges, given the general consensus that oil is upward bound long-term?
* How do these market leaders think about the underlying price drivers and feedback loops, and what was behind the price spike of 2008?
* Will BRIC consumption help keep oil prices high?
* What kinds of carbon prices are envisioned as feeding into oil price, given some future US carbon legislation?
Panelists:
Daniel Derr, Lead Scientist, Sustainable Energy, General Electric?
Oil industry analyst to be announced

9:45-10:30 Panel Discussion:
Views of Leading Corporates on the Bio-Based Chemicals Value Chain and Market
* The drivers for bio-based chemicals adoption: oil/gas prices, carbon cost, demand for more sustainable consumer products
* How do bio-based products stack up against coal syngas-derived chemicals (polygen gasification model)?
* Status of existing commitments in bio-based chemicals, if any
* What is their balance of in-house R&D/development vs. outside licensing/partnering?
* What are they looking for in aquisition/licensing/joint venture?

Panelists:
Volkert Claasson, Director of White Biotech, DSM?
Joe Fox, Director of Emerging and External Technologies, Ashland?
Veronique Hervouet, Biomass and Synfuels Manager, Total Petrochemicals?
Steve Meller, Chief Innovation Catalyst, Procter and Gamble?
Bob Maughon, Senior Research & Development Director, Hydrocarbons and Energy, DOW Chemical?
Mark Posey, Technology Manager, Business Development Unit, Huntsman?
Ed Pruitt, Director of Purchasing, Sun Chemical Corporation?

10:30-10:45 Networking Break

Session III: Demand Side Perspectives on Bio-Based Chemicals

This session aims to shine a light on the end-use market drivers for bio-based chemical products and applications. Presenters will address the existing commercial success of bioplastics, the role of sustainability factors with consumers and big box retailers, and competitive advantages to be gained—or not—by switching to biomass-derived chemicals.

10:45-11:15
Overview of Retailer Scorecards, End-of-Life Infrastructure Issues and Environmental Regulations that Impact Biopolymer Packaging
Presenter:
Marci Recher, Project Manager, Environmental Packaging International?

11:15-11:45
A Consumer Language for Bioproducts: The Quest of a Designer and a Marketer to Understand How to Effectively Connect the Value of Sustainable Products to the End Market
Joint Presenters:
Eric Pfeiffer, President, Pfeiffer Lab?
Umberto Torresan, Global Marketing Manager, Polyurethanes, DOW Chemical Company?

11:45-1:15 Group Luncheon

Session IV: Bio-Based Products, Applications and Scaling Hurdles

1:15-3:00
Bio-Based Products, Applications and Scaling Hurdles, Part I
This session will consist of short, highly focused presentations from developers of biomass conversion platforms of all types (thermo-chemical, hydrolysis, fermentation, synthetic bio and combinations), describing:
* Their target “intermediate” or “building block” molecules and associated applications and market segments
* Special challenges in conversion process to achieve the bio-based product and getting to a cost-competitive “drop-in” status
* Progress with, and challenges in, scaling production from bench or pilot-scale to commercial level
* Their needs for partnering or investment, or tools/IP available for licensing
Moderator:
Edna Vassilovski, Partner, Stoel Rives LLP
Individual Presenters:
* Raw Sewage into Biodegradable Plastic - John Bissell, Chief Executive Officer, Micromidas?
* BioBased? Acrylic - Really! - Charles Eggert, President & Chief Executive Officer, OPX Biotechnologies?
* Methyl Ester Ethoxylates - Vegetable Oil Based Surfactants - Nicholas Kob, Market Development Manager, Huntsman Corporation
* Guayule Rubber - the Emergence of a Major New Industrial Crop - Jeff Martin, President & Chief Executive Officer, Yulex Corporation?

3:00-3:30 Networking Break

3:30-5:30
Bio-Based Products, Applications and Scaling Hurdles, Part II
Moderator:
Edna Vassilovski, Partner, Stoel Rives LLP
Presenters:
* With the Market In Mind: Advancing a Pipeline of Bio-Based Products - Damien Perriman, Vice President Business Development, Verdezyne?
* Delivering on the Promise of itaconic acid? - John Shaw, Principal, Itaconix LLC
* L-Ketals – Renewable Platform Chemicals - Olga Selifonova, Co-Founder, Segetis?
* Next Generation Green Chemicals from MicroAlgae? - Tailored Oils and Chemicals from Renewable Oil Production Platforms - Jonathon Wolfson, Chief Executive Officer, Solazyme?

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 - Day Two

Session V: Project Development and Retooling Existing Biorefineries

8:00-9:30
Panel Discussion: Perspectives of Biorefinery Owners and Developers on the Bio-Based Chemicals Value Chain
This panel features biofuel plant owners and project developers seeking to boost their project economics with bio-based co-products.
* What is the relationship between biotech product developers and existing facilities that convert large amounts of biomass?
* How do biorefineries realistically see the additional revenue potential of bio-based chemicals alongside their existing product line, whether fuels or paper products? What are the trade-offs between revenue generating potential and the cost of new processes and equipment?
* Status of ethanol projects starting to develop chemical revenue streams
* Needs for external technologies
Moderator:
John Ellersick, Succinic Acids Program Manager, Myriant Technologies LLC?
Panelists:
William Baum, Executive Vice President, Business Development, Verenium?
Ben Cloud, President & Chief Operating Officer, XL Renewables?
John Plaza, President & Founder, Imperium Renewables?
Chris Ryan, Vice President, Business Development Downstream, Gevo
Christophe Schilling, Chief Executive Officer, Genomatica?
Andrew Shafer, Executive Vice President, Sales and Market Development, Elevance?
Scott Weishaar, Vice President of Commercial Development, POET?

9:30-10:00 Networking Break

Session VI: Feedstock and Logistics Considerations in the Growth of a Bio-Based Chemicals Industry

10:00-11:30
Panel Discussion: Perspectives of Feedstock Suppliers on the Bio-Based Chemicals Value Chain and Market Prospects
This panel will explore “upstream” considerations around logistics, scale, and economics:
* The “Food vs. Fuel” debate: does it impact bio-based chemicals?
* Lifecycle, carbon and water footprint for feedstocks
* How do feedstock owners/suppliers see bio-based chemicals in terms of expanding their revenue opportunities?
Panelists:
Linda Beltz, Director, Technology Partnerships, Weyerhaeuser?
Edward Hennessey, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Cleantech Biofuels Inc?
Aaron Schuchart, Vice President, Business Development, Mendel Biotechnology Inc
Mike Schmidt, Manager, Forestry Renewables, John Deere?
Glen Weaver, Research, Quality, and Innovation, Conagra Foods?
Dubois White, Vice President of Hull and Fiber and Argentine Operations, Golden Peanut Company?

11:00 – 11:30 Networking Break

Session VII: Catalyzing the Value Chain with Equity and Government Support

11:30-1:00
Panel Discussion: Venture Investors’ Perspectives
* How venture investors see the market – which platform/feedstock chemicals are most attractive targets for entry
* Size of value chain segments
* Exit strategies from biotech developers of bio-based chemicals; any prospect for IPOs improving in the next year or so?
* What kinds of relationships are investors looking for in the university / R&D lab?
* What are the main challenges in bringing bio-based products to market?
* Role of governmental funding (grants, contracts, loan guarantees)
Moderator:
David Quinby, Member, Stoel Rives LLP
Panelists:
Doug Cameron, Managing Director and Chief Science Advisor, Piper Jaffray?
Amol Deshpande, Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers?
William Lese, Managing Director, Braemar Energy Ventures LLC?
Evan Lovell, Partner, Virgin Green Fund?
Jim Matheson, General Partner, Flagship Partners?
Erik Rutten, Senior Investment Partner, DSM Venturing?

1:00 Summit Adjourns

External links:

Next Generation Bio-Based Chemicals Summit

Infocast Inc - Organizers of the Bio-Based Chemicals Summit