Netherlands Institute for Catalysis Research

NIOK in a nutshell
NIOK Office
NIOK (‘Netherlands Institute for Catalysis Research’ or ‘Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek in de Katalyse’),
Netherlands Organisation for
established in 1991, is a virtual institute consisting of Dutch University groups active in all areas of catalysis. It is
Scientific Research (NWO)
a nationwide Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (KNAW) recognized graduate school (‘Onderzoekschool’),
Anna van Saksenlaan 51
which fosters the advancement of both higher education and research and stimulates collaboration between
P.O. Box 93470
scientists of different disciplines and universities. NIOK acts as the platform and sparring partner for national
2509 AL The Hague
and international contacts involving catalysis. NIOK is supported by an industrial advisory board VIRAN, which
The Netherlands
consists of members from Dutch and multinational industries involved in many aspects of catalytic processes.
T +31 (0) 70 344 05 23
Currently eight universiteit participatie as full member in NIOK:
F +31 (0) 70 344 07 87
E [email protected]
www.niok.eu
Wageningen University recently joined NIOK as an associate member.
VIRAN
Netherlands Institute for Catalysis Research
VIRAN Office
Anna van Saksenlaan 51
Mission
P.O. Box 93223
VIRAN (Association of Industrial Advisory Council Members of the Dutch Institute for Catalysis Research) is an asso-
2509 AE The Hague
ciation formed to promote the interests of industrial companies involved in catalysis, both as producers and users.
The Netherlands
It does this particularly by:
T +31 (0) 70 344 05 23
• coordinating the industrial influence on and encouragement of relevant education and research in the field of
F +31 (0) 70 344 07 87
catalysis;
• urging the interests of catalyst-producing and catalyst-using industry towards government and funding bodies
E [email protected]
www.viran.eu
(NWO, ACTS), acting as the Dutch catalysis industry platform.
History
VIRAN was established in 1996 when members of the industrial advisory council of the catalysis research school
NIOK realized the need for a separate forum for the exchange of information and ideas within the catalysis industry
and for the coordination of industrial influence on education in catalysis and university research.
Members
Currently VIRAN comprises 12 members:
www.niok.nl
Catalysis
NIOK Structure
Cataaly
lys
yssi
ysis
sis is a vibra
ibrant
ntt branc
brancch o
of che
h mist
mi ryy d
deali
e ng
eali
ng with the course
cour
ourse and
and rate
e of ch
hemi
em cal reac
eaction
tions.
s. A cat
catalys
alystt is a sub
sub-stan
anccce
e which
ich, added
add
ded
ed
d tto
o a reactio
t on
n mixtur
mixture
e, e
en
nables
ab ess a desired
d red
ed rea
react
ction or speeds
dss up its rate
e with
without
out bein
being
g consum
consumed.
ed.
One
On
e of
of the first maj
ajor
or catal
catal
ata yst
st mate
terial
ria
i ls used
used iin
n ch
chemic
mic
icaal
al ind
ndustry played
ed an
a im
mpo
por
orr tant part
art in solv
solving
ing the worl
world’s
d’s food
University Boards
pro
pr
pro
oblem in
ob
n the
th begin
nning of the last ccen
ntury
ryy. In
In th
the presence of thiis cataly
c
yst, tw
wo gasess which
wo
which norm
normally
ally rea
react
ct very
very
slo
ssl
low
l ly – hydroge
rog n and nitrog
trogen
en – for
form
m ammoni
ammoni
moniaa. In
In the
the course
ur of the twen
ntiet
tieth
h ce
century,
y, and
and espec
especiall
iallyy during
during the
l
last
fifftyy years
e , ca
cataly
tal
alysis
i has argu
rg ably
a
abl
bec
ecome
o
om
ome
the most potent
pot
t
too
tool
in the ch
chem
hemist’’s toolb
toolb
olbox, which
which all
allows
ows uss to cope
cope
w fu
with
fut
futture
re chal
ha len
lenges regar
egarding
ng
g ssustainable
tain
ainab dev
develop
elopment
opment
ment and
an the produ
duct
cttion of energ
nergy ca
carr
rri
rie
ri
iers, phar
pharmace
maceutic
uticals
als and
material
ma
mate
ial
als.
s.
VIRAN (Industrial Advisory Board)
Scientific Advisory Board
Catalysis Research in the Netherlands
Cataly
Cata
lysi
ysis has
ha re
ece
ceiv
eived
ed a gre
great
at d
deal of atten
te
ention
ion
on withi
hin the Dutc
Dutch
h scien
s ience com
commun
mmun
m ity,
ity both
bo iin
n ind
indust
ustryy and
and in aca
academi
de a..
NIOK Board and Scientific Director
A un
niq
iqu
que
ue
e fea
eatu
ture
ure of Du
Dutch catalysiss re
rese
ear
a
arch
is th
the clo
closse colla
collab
bora
orattion betw
betwe
een the
een
thes
ese p
paartie
rties.
s. They
They meet reg
regular
ularly
ly
in
n NIOK,
OK
OK,
K, the Netherlands Institute for Cata
atal
alyssis Re
esea
earch,
earc
h whic
hich
ch was fou
founde
nded
d in 1991
991 by
by seve
seven
nu
univer
i siti
sities
es in tthe
Neth
therla
erlaands.
nd
We are
re very
e y prou
ud that
that
a the D
Dutch
utch cat
catalys
al is has
alys
has reach
hed
d an ex
exce
c ent
cell
nt inte
in rnatio
iona
onalllyy reco
recogniz
gnized
d sstand
tanding:
ing man
a y
Secretariat
prestigi
pres
tigi
igiou
ouss nat
ational and int
nterna
rnation
tional
a award
rdss were
were grant
gra te
ed
d to se
severa
s ve al NIOK mem
mb
mb
be
ers, NIOK researc
re earch taakes
ke high
hi
posi
pos
osi
sition
t s in tth
ti
he ccitation ind
dexx char
charts, NIO
OK me
embers aarre oft
ofte
en invit
n ed forr lectures
l
s ab
ab ad and
abroad
and have
hav obta
obtained
d fir
first-r
t ate
e
evaluat
uat
ati
ations
tions
o in
n national and
d inte
i rnat
na iona
n l assses
esssm
ment
ents.
s
RuG
UT
TU/e
UU
TUD
UvA
UL
RU
NIOK Mission
Our mission is to organize high-level academic research and education in all fields of catalysis. The main goal is to
Education Committee
NIOK PhD Platform
Research Committee
promote fundamental and applied catalysis research and education, to initiate collaboration between the different
research groups and to cooperate with industry to learn and appreciate their needs. In addition to the excellent
education of young researchers, NIOK contributes with its research to the creation of a more sustainable society.
Catalysis Education
NIOK Research Initiatives
NIOK conside
errs educa
ducation
tion of youn
young
g researchers o
off pri
prim
me impor
mportanc
tance.
e. Educa
Education in
n NIOK
OK certain
inly co
on
ntributes to the
NIO was the key
NIOK
ke iinitiator of the national to
op ins
n tu
nsti
nst
tute
ute “National Research
h Scho
hool
o Combination – Cataly
Catalys
a is”
s”
quality of catalysis
y research
h and
and develo
deve pmen
entt in th
he Ne
he
Netherllands
ands. NI
NIOK
OK offers severa
e l nation
onal
al Mast
Master’ss lev
evel courses in
((NRS
(N
NRSC-C)
-C)
C) on
on Cata
Ca lysi
siss Contr
Controlled by Chemicall D
De
Design,
gn,
n a resea
es rch prog
o ram
am on innovative research
h ffund
und
nded
d byy
catalysis.
gove
ove
vernme
ve
rnm
ment for an extend
ment
me
extended
ed period.
p
Another exam
ample
mple of promot
p om ing
pr
g inno
innovati
vations
on for a sustai
ainab
nabl
ble
e fu
uture iis
Besides Graduate’s level spe
special
cia and in-dept
in-d h co
c urse
u so
on
n vvarious
ous sub
subject
jectss in
i cat
a alysis,
is NIOK
K ann
annuall
uallyy orrganiizes a broad
ACTS (Ad
(Adva
vaan
an
anced
Catal
atalytic
ytic Tec
Technol
hno o
ogie
g s for Sustainabiility
lit ). ACTSS is a joi
joint
nt initi
initiativ
ative
e of gov
governm
ernm
ment,, aacademia,
and fundamental cour
co se Catal
atalysis
ysis,, An Int
I egraated
e App
proach
pr
o
, to pre
present
sent a broad
road ove
ervie
ew and
and deep
deeper
er in
nsight
ig s into
and indu
industry
stry th
tha
hat funds
ha
nds tens of mill
millions
ion of Euros for pre-co
ompet
e itiv
itive
e an
aand
d indust
indu rial
ally
ly relev
levaant
an rese
search
rch,, wi
with
th
h tth
he
he
modern catalysis to
o star
starting
ting PhD stu
student
dents.
s. NIOK
NIOK memb
mem errss the
themselv
selves
es devel
developed
oped the ccourse mate
material
rial,, which
w ich has been
aim of antic
ticipat
ipatin
ing
ng the need
needss of the fut
fu ure
ur society. In 2009
9 th
tthe
he succcess
cessor
or of ACTS,
AC TS,
TS TA
TASC (Te
ech
c nology
chno
chn
logy Are
Areas
as for
for
published as a text book
ok.. Each
Ea yyear
ear this cou
course
rse attr
attract
acts so
ome 65
om
6 PhD stu
student
dentss, including
g gue
guests
sts from abr
abroad,
oad on the
Sustainable
e Chem
Chemistr
istr
tr y),
y hass been lau
launche
nched,
d, in
in which thre
h eo
of the
e ffo
fou
ur prograam
ms are
e catal
allys
ysis-ori
ysis
-oriente
ented.
d. Here,
Here the
isla
s nd of Schiermonnikoog in
n the nort
northern
hern par
partt of the Net
Nether
erl
rlands
rl
a
and
.
academic and ind
industr
us ia
ial
al cata
c lysi
siss work
wo k ttoget
oget
ge her
h iin small, flexible rese
sea
earch
h proj
rojjects
ect to
o fost
fo er areas
foster
a ea suc
such
h as syngas
syngas
catalysis and bi
biomas
omasss valor
v or
ori
rizati
z on..
Research Cooperation between Academic Institutes
NIOK members, am
mongs
ongstt o
otthe
hers, played
ayed an impo
importa
rtan
ant pa
part in the proces
oces
essse
se that led to
ses
o the formulat
ulation
on of the
th
NIOK res
re earchers ((aboutt 30 profe
p ofessor
ssorss and
and some
some 250
250 Ph
PhD sttude
ude
u nts,
s, ori
origina
ginating
tin ffrom e
eight
gh
h Dutc
Dutch
h U
Un
niver
iversiti
ties:
es
Technology Roadmap Catal
atalysis
ys , Ke
K
Key to Sus
ustain
tainabil
ab ity
abil
ty and
an the subs
subsequ
equ
eq
que
uent
nt creat
creation
ion of ACTS
T and its research
rch pro
pro-
Groningen, Twente,, Amste
terdam
rdam,, Utrech
Utrecht,
t, Leide
Leiden,
n, Delft
Delft,, Nijme
N me
egen and
egen
eg
a d Eindh
Eindhoven
ove ) co
cover
ver the whol
whole
e range
r ge of catal
catal
ally-
g
gram
gra
s. Supported by VIRA
RAN,
N, NIOK
NIOK too
took
ook
ok initia
tiative
ive for
iv
fo Catc
CatchBio
h
(Ca
Catta
Ca
ta sis for
talysis
taly
fo Sust
S ainable Chemicals from Bioma
mass).
ss)
sis: heterogeneous,, homo
m gene
eneous
ous and bioc
biocatal
atalysis
ysis.. Each
Each ressearch gr
group
p has
has chosen
chosen its own foc
fo us and
and has its own
w
This re
Th
esearch program aims to develo
develop cl
clean
e and efficien
nt proces
p cesses
pr
se forr biom
i ass
a conversion into low-cost
ost and
strengths. As researrcch subje
bjects
cts tend to beco
become
me incre
increasin
asingly
gly com
omp
mplex, mu
mp
multidi
discip
ci linary appro
pproache
ache
che
he
es aare
ar req
quir
u e
ed
d more
sustaain
ainable
i
biofuels, chemic
icals,
ls and pha
pharma
rm
maac
aceuticalss.
and more. In NIOK, acade
cad mic
m cata
cat lysi
lys s resear
researcher
cherss meet,
meet, and ccoop
perat
eratio
era
ion
io
on betw
between
een two
wo
o or
or more
e grou
gro ps is pro
promot
p
oted,
ot
e
ed,
In September 2012 the Graduate Progr
r am
m Solar
So
olar
larr Fu
Fue
Fuels Catal
Catalysis
ysis has bee
b n grante
nted.
d This program is a hig
ghly syn
syn-
e.g., during special seminar
ars.
s.
erg
ge
g
etic effort built around four NIOK groups
ups bri
bringin
nging
g togeth
toget er keyy expertises, such
u as spectroscopy, mol
molecul
ecu ar
cata
ca
at lysis, electrocatalysis and photocatalysis. The PhD part of
o the prog
pr ram to be funded
nde by NWO
O (4 PhDs)
PhDs) wil
willl be
Research Cooperation with Industry
re
reinforced
rei
ed with funding for PhD stud
dents fro
om the
the new
new Energy
Energ initiattive off the National
nal Rese
Research
arch Sch
School
ool Cata
Catalysi
lysiss
A unique aspect of coope
oop rati
tion
on withi
w thin
n the
the Nether
Netherland
landss is the ope
open
n commun
communicat
cation,
i
not onl
onlyy betw
b tw
wee
en
n un
niv
iversiti
ities,
iti
es,
(N C-C), the NanoNEXT-NL program an
(NRS
a d, in the
the future
future,, amongs
am gst ot
others
ers, th
he D
Dutch Inst
Institut
itute
e For
Fo Fu
Fundam
ndamenta
ental
but also between academi
dem a and
d indust
dustry.
ry. NIOK has an indu
industri
strial
al advis
advisory
ory boar
board
d (VIRAN
(VIRAN)) in whi
which
h compa
mpan
nie
es are rep
es
rep--
Ener
nergy
g Research (DIFFER). The Graduate Progr
gy
ogram
am is
is expect
expected
ed to act
act aas a nucleus for futur
future
e broade
broaderr initia
initiative
tives.
s.
resented such as Albemar
marle,
le Avan
Av tium
um, AR
ARKEMA
KEMA Vli
Vlissin
ssingen
gen B.V.
B.V.,, BASF,
BASF, Dow, DSM
DSM,, ExxonM
ExxonMobil
obil,, Jo
oh
hn n Ma
hn
hnso
M tth
th
hey,, Nori
Norit
o ,
Sabic Europe
op , SASOLL and
d Shel
She l. Being
ein the pla
platfor
orm fo
forr the
the cataly
catalyst-p
st-produ
roducing
cing and
and/or
/or cata
catalyst
s -ut
utti
tilizin
lizing in
indus
ndustr
ndu
try, VIR
VIRAN
AN
not only
n advises NIOK
K on possibl
b e re
esear
earch
ch subje
s bjects
ts and stra
strategy
tegy,, but
but also
also coope
cooperate
ratess active
activ ly on educationa
ucationa
ion l de
evelo
velop
pme s, such
ment
s
as the PhD and Master’s level co
ourse
urs s in cat
atalys
alysis.
is.