On 23 and 24 October, a delegation of PhD researchers, principal investigators, and support staff from the ARC CBBC community visited the BASF site in Ludwigshafen. The visit underscored the shared commitment of BASF and ARC CBBC to advancing sustainable chemistry and reaffirmed their interest in continuing the collaboration.

The program began with a guided tour of BASF’s Visitor Center, followed by an on-site exploration offering a close-up view of industrial-scale applications of sustainable technologies.

The second day featured a seminar that opened with a keynote by Helmut Winterling, President of Group Research at BASF, who spoke on “Pathways to Sustainability and Circular Economy.” His presentation set the tone for a day of insightful dialogue. Professor Bert Weckhuysen (Utrecht University) followed with a talk on “Operando Spectroscopy of Catalysts to Make Chemicals from Renewable Resources,” which sparked discussions on catalyst innovation.

Professor Hans Kuipers (Eindhoven University of Technology) contributed with a presentation on “Pyrolytic Decomposition of Methane to Hydrogen and Functional Solid Carbon – a Multi-scale Approach,” offering a deep dive into hydrogen production and carbon valorization.

After the coffee break, BASF R&D staff and ARC CBBC PhD candidates took the stage to present their research, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration. The day concluded with a dynamic poster session that encouraged further discussion and networking.