Zirfon – Agfa-Gevaert wins the essenscia Innovation Award 2022 with groundbreaking membrane technology for green hydrogen.
Imaging specialist and specialty chemical company Agfa-Gevaert from Mortsel has won the essenscia Innovation Award 2022, the most important prize for industrial innovation in Belgium. Agfa has developed a membrane technology with Zirfon that makes the production of green hydrogen more efficient and cheaper.
The thinner separation membranes can produce up to four times more hydrogen than conventional membranes, and they have a longer service life. The Innovation Award was presented by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid at a ceremony in Brussels, in the presence of Prime Minister Alexander De Croo . The other nominees were GSK, Power to Methanol, Quantoom Biosciences and Soudal.
Agfa-Gevaert has developed a groundbreaking membrane technology with Zirfon that can make an important contribution to the development of the global hydrogen economy. Similarly, the leading Fraunhofer Institute states that Agfa-Gevaert’s Zirfon membranes are the most cost-effective technology for the production of green hydrogen via alkaline electrolysis.
Agfa has been working on this innovation since 2006. R&D and production are done in-house. The know-how is therefore firmly anchored in our country and builds on the expertise that the company has built up over the years in special films, casting technology and chemistry.
Marc Van Damme , Vice-President Digital Print & Chemicals Agfa-Gevaert:
Electrolysis is the heart of hydrogen production, our membranes are the heart of that electrolysis.
“We therefore occupy a unique and crucial position in the development of the hydrogen economy that will reach cruising speed throughout the world in the coming years. We have all the trump cards to be a frontrunner and market leader in that hydrogen story and thus help shape the sustainable energy transition. ”
François Cornélis, jury chairman essenscia Innovation Award, said:
The innovations of the winner and the finalists all bear a clear Belgian stamp.
“This is progress, made in Belgium.”
François Cornélis , chairman of the jury essenscia Innovation Award: “Agfa-Gevaert’s membrane technology has the potential to be a game changer in hydrogen production and the global energy transition. This is Belgian top technology. This is about a Belgian company that is a world leader in a market segment that is very important for our sustainable future.”
“The innovations of the winner and the finalists all bear a clear Belgian stamp. This is progress, made in Belgium. But the impact is not limited to our country. In this way, the chemistry and life sciences in Belgium ensure greater sustainability and a better quality of life throughout Europe, even throughout the world.”
The innovations of the four finalists are also world firsts and pioneering projects. For example, pharmaceutical company GSK developed Mosquirix, the first and for the time being the only malaria vaccine in the world. The result of more than thirty years of research and development in Belgium.
The vaccine, which is produced at GSK in Rixensart in Wallonia, is recommended by the World Health Organization as an effective remedy for malaria. It is a world first that further strengthens Belgium’s international reputation as a leading vaccine and pharmaceutical country.
The Power to Methanol consortium is working in the port of Antwerp on a more sustainable production process for methanol, a multi-purpose basic molecule in the chemical sector, based on hydrogen and captured CO 2 .
Seven partners – Advario, ENGIE, Fluxys, Indaver, INOVYN, Port of Antwerp-Bruges and PMV – are building a pilot installation at the INOVYN site in the port of Antwerp. It can produce about 8,000 tons of sustainable methanol annually, while avoiding at least the same amount of tons of CO 2 emissions.
The Walloon start-up Quantoom Biosciences , a subsidiary of biotech company Univercells, designed an automated production platform for vaccines and therapeutics based on the mRNA technology, known from the corona vaccines.
The extremely compact production system – it fits in a container and is therefore easily transportable – can make complex RNA production technologies more affordable and accessible. The company is also involved in the development of the first African covid vaccine.
Soudal has developed a sustainable mounting adhesive based on recycled raw materials with the same performance and price as its classic variant. Both the glue and the packaging consist of 80% recycled raw materials, of which 35% are of bio-based origin.
This means that 90% less water is needed per duct, and 60% less CO 2 emissions. It is the circular economy in practice where Soudal sets a new international benchmark for sustainability.
Yves Verschueren, managing director essenscia, said:
With a record number of 982 patent applications in 2021 and 5.5 billion euros spent on R&D, the chemical, plastics and life sciences sector remains the undisputed champion of innovation in our country.
Yves Verschueren , managing director of essenscia: “With a record number of 982 patent applications in 2021, or almost four inventions per working day, and spending 5.5 billion euros in research and development, or about 15 million euros per day, the chemical sector continues to , plastics and life sciences are the undisputed champion of innovation in our country.”
“This innovative strength is also apparent from the 32 innovation projects submitted for this edition of the essenscia Innovation Award, with a clear focus on sustainable materials, circular processes, new health therapies and extensive digitization. This also shows once again how important it is that the government continues to fully support innovation.”
The essenscia Innovation Award is the most important prize for industrial innovation in Belgium. With this fifth edition, essenscia, the federation of chemistry, plastics and life sciences, wants to highlight the many innovations in Belgian industry and encourage companies to continue investing in sustainable products and processes.
The winner will receive a cash prize of 30,000 euros. Previous laureates are BASF/Emulco, Agfa-Gevaert, GSK and Mithra.
Participants in the essenscia Innovation Award 2022
Agfa-Gevaert, Bar.on, BIOkuris, Chevron Phillips Chemicals, Dow Silicones, DW Reusables, Ellion, Evonik & Proviron, ExxonMobil, GSK, Home EOS, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Kaneka, Kantify, Necrete, Peace of Meat, PolyPerception, Power to Methanol, Puratos, QUALIblood, Quantome Biosciences, R&O Lab, Rombio, Salubata, Sanofi, Schoeller Allibert, Secoya Technologies, Sil’Innov, Soudal, Vésale Bioscience, Hydropower and XenomatiX.
Agfa-Gevaert wins the essenscia Innovation Award 2022 with groundbreaking membrane technology for green hydrogen, October 18, 2022
