Within the Campus Groningen ecosystem, companies, knowledge institutions and industry partners work together on solutions for the circular economy of tomorrow. We are proud that ChainCraft, with a location at Campus Groningen, is playing an important role in the new European PACE project. Through this initiative, the company demonstrates how industrial side streams can be transformed into sustainable chemical building blocks, and how collaboration within strong ecosystems enables innovation at scale. Read the press release prepared by ChainCraft below.
ChainCraft is proud to launch the PACE project, a European initiative advancing the circular biobased economy. Supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), the project brings together industrial and innovation partners across the value chain to accelerate the industrial deployment of sustainable medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs).
As part of the project, PACE will demonstrate a first-of-its-kind flagship biorefinery by retrofitting part of Royal Avebe ’ s existing production facility. Using advanced fermentation and microbial chain elongation, the facility will convert potato juice side-streams into valuable biobased MCFAs for applications across the chemical industry.
The project represents an important step toward reducing Europe’s dependency on fossil and palm oil-based chemistry while strengthening local, circular value chains. By integrating circular solutions into existing industrial infrastructure, PACE demonstrates how industrial side-streams can be transformed into scalable and commercially relevant chemical building blocks.
PACE aims to produce up to 20,000 tonnes of purified MCFAs annually from approximately 300,000 tonnes of potato juice, while significantly improving resource efficiency through wastewater reuse and reduced transport emissions. Compared to conventional fossil and palm-based alternatives, the biobased MCFAs are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50–80%, enabling the chemical industry to decarbonize its value chain.
“PACE demonstrates how circular chemistry can become part of existing industrial systems at meaningful scale, ” says Niels van Stralen, founder and Chief Growth Officer of ChainCraft. “By upgrading infrastructure that already exists and using locally available side-streams, we show that sustainable chemistry does not have to start from scratch. This project is an important example of how Europe can build more resilient and circular chemical value chains. ”
The involvement of downstream partners such as Syensqo, Symrise AG and SC Johnson highlights the growing industrial interest in circular and biobased alternatives to conventional chemistry. Together with partners across the value chain, PACE aims to accelerate market adoption and commercial scale-up of biobased fatty acids, while strengthening Europe ’ s position as a pioneer in deforestation-free and import-independent chemical production.
Meer informatie: www.chaincraft.com
Who is developing the most impactful innovation in Life Sciences & Health in the Northern Netherlands? Five companies are in the running for the LIFE Science Innovation Award 2026: Flux Robotics, Limosa Immunodiagnostics, SPCTR, MimeCure and GlycanScan International. The nominees will present their innovations on Tuesday 22 September during the fifth edition of the LIFE Science Conference in Groningen. An independent jury will select the winner, who will receive a €10,000 cash prize.
A much-loved tradition The Campus Trail has become a much-loved tradition on campus. Students, employees and professionals from companies and organisations across the campus ecosystem lace up their running shoes for a sporty 6.4-kilometre route through buildings and past some of the campus’s unique labs. The rapid growth in registrations shows just how much the Campus Trail has become part of the campus community. The combination of sport, meeting others and the unique campus setting makes the run a great opportunity to connect with people outside the usual work and study environment. And there’s no need to head home as soon as you cross the finish line. During the after-party, hosted by Contini Catering, participants can relax together, enjoy a drink and celebrate the afternoon. There’s still time to join: those who want to take part can register online until 3 September, or sign up on the day itself using the PIN Campus Trail 2026 | Campus Groningen.
ZonMw is expected to open the final call for proposals within the PharmaNL Shared Development Infrastructure (SDI) program line. This program line focuses on strengthening the infrastructure for the development, upscaling, and production of innovative medicines in the Netherlands.
