Bio-on and AkzoNobel continue their collaborative relationship

Bio-on and AkzoNobel continue their collaborative relationship

• The two companies obtained excellent and promising results during the implementation of the SEAFRONT Project.
• They have decided to continue R&D activities in order to further demonstrate the already developed systems and initiate work on new formulations.

Bologna, Italy, 04 December 2017 - Thanks to excellent results achieved within the Synergistic Fouling Control Technologies-SEAFRONT project (Grant Agreement 614034), funded by the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission; Bio-on and International Paint Ltd. (AkzoNobel) have agreed to continue their relationship beyond the close of the Project.

The aim of the collaboration is to continue to investigate the use of Bio-on's biodegradable and bio-based polymers as components in fouling control coatings designed to prevent the undesirable accumulation of marine organisms on boats, ships, tidal power plants and other aquatic installations.

Bio-on is a leading Italian biotechnology company in the bioplastic sector and listed in the AIM segment of the Borsa Italiana, while AkzoNobel, is a worldwide leader in the Marine, Protective Coatings, and Yacht markets.

"This collaboration is strategically attractive to AkzoNobel as it offers the potential to develop new biobased products which will strengthen our position as world leaders in high performance and sustainable coatings," says David Williams, R&D Director, Marine Coatings, AkzoNobel.

"We are particularly proud and happy with the decision to continue working with AkzoNobel for two main reasons," says Marco Astorri, Bio-on's CEO and Chairman. First of all because we will continue to work with some of the best researchers in the chemical industry and secondly because we will be able to demonstrate further the amazing application possibilities of our biopolymers."

"These results and continued cooperation are good examples of the many valuable outcomes of the SEAFRONT Project, which started in 2014 and will end this year," says Arie Brouwer of the Dutch Polymer Institute and coordinator of the SEAFRONT Project. "In SEAFRONT a consortium of 19 companies and knowledge institutes are working together in a unique way on anti-fouling solutions for marine applications. The consortium can be proud that they have successfully achieved the main objectives such as creating surfaces which reduce hydrodynamic drag by 5% and, thanks to the excellent work of Bio-on and AkzoNobel, generated very good results for new fouling control coatings utilising bio-based polymers."

AkzoNobel:

AkzoNobel is a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals. Calling on centuries of expertise, we supply industries and consumers worldwide with innovative products and sustainable technologies designed to meet the growing demands of our fast-changing planet. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we have approximately 46,000 people in around 80 countries, while our portfolio includes well-known brands such as Dulux, Sikkens, International, Interpon and Eka. Consistently ranked as one of the leaders in the area of sustainability, we are committed to making life more liveable and our cities more human. AkzoNobel through its International® brand of Marine Coatings, Protective Coatings and Yacht Coatings, is a world leader in fouling control coatings, antifouling and fouling-release technologies. We constantly seek to improve our products and develop new technology platforms.

Bio-on S.p.A.

Bio-On S.p.A., an Italian Intellectual Property Company (IPC), operates in the bioplastic sector conducting applied research and development of modern bio-fermentation technologies in the field of eco-sustainable and completely naturally biodegradable materials. In particular, Bio-On develops industrial applications through the creation of product characterisations, components and plastic items. Since February 2015, Bio-On S.p.A. has also been operating in the development of natural and sustainable chemicals for the future. Bio-On has developed an exclusive process for the production of a family of polymers called PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates) from agricultural waste (including molasses and sugar cane and sugar beet syrups). The bioplastic produced in this way is able to replace the main families of conventional plastics in terms of performance, thermo-mechanical properties and versatility. Bio-On PHAs is a bioplastic that can be classified as 100% natural and completely biodegradable: this has been certified by Vincotte and by USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). The Issuer's strategy envisages the marketing of licenses for PHAs production and related ancillary services, the development of R&D (also through new collaborations with universities, research centres and industrial partners), as well as the realisation of industrial plants designed by Bio-On.

Project title: Synergistic Fouling control Technologies  - SEAFRONT Website: http://seafront-project.eu   Project N°: 614034 Topic: FP7-OCEAN-2013-3: Innovative antifouling materials Total Budget: €. 11.265.469 EU contribution: €. 7.995.161 Duration 48 months Start date: 1st January 2014 Project Coordinator: Dr. Arie Brouwer - Dutch Polymer Institute