MOOC Biobased Products for a Sustainable (Bio)economy starting in January 2019!

november 19, 2018

New course starts 16th January 2019

Have you ever asked what “biobased” means or wondered about the key aspects in developing and commercializing biobased products? This course will answer those questions and more; highlighting the opportunities, hurdles, and driving forces of the bioeconomy.

Today’s industries face enormous global challenges when it comes to the fossil-based economy. Fossil resources are no longer a desirable feedstock for many products and governments’ climate goals put various limitations to its usage. Moreover, consumer perception has become an increasingly important factor.

With biobased products as an alternative to the fossil-based economy, the bioeconomy can provide viable solutions to these challenges.

The course describes the different types of biomass, the methods of refinery and typical conversion technologies used for biobased products. You’ll also engage in a study of the practical and real-life examples emerging in the market: biopolymers, bioenergy, bioflavours, and biosurfactants.

The course has been developed by a team of experts from seven different institutions and universities in three different countries, all sharing their personal perspectives on the opportunities and challenges faced by the biobased industry. The three top-ranked institutions Delft University of Technology, RWTH Aachen University, and Wageningen University & Research offer additional, more advanced courses to continue your learning journey

– Industrial Biotechnology: a more advanced course that digs deeper into engineering aspects of bio-based  products.

– MicroMasters Chemistry and Technology for Sustainability: help drive the transition from fossil sources  to renewable energy ones and engineer a biobased future.

– Sustainable Development: the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Introduction to sustainable development and its  relation to the Water-Energy-Food Nexus.

What you’ll learn

> How to judge the opportunities for biobased resources as alternative feedstocks compared to fossil resources
> The challenges and opportunities of the bioeconomy and the basic elements of the value chain
> Real life examples of biobased products of the bioeconomy, such as biosurfactants, bioflavours, bioenergy, and  biopolymers
> How biobased products are produced
> The key issues that must be overcome for the commercialization of such products