Artificial intelligence start-ups have begun to revolutionize the Chinese pharmaceutical industry. With the help of algorithms and ‘Big Data,’ the development time for new drugs is being radically reduced, in some cases from ten to 15 years to just one to one and a half years. The Chinese start-ups with the best prospects are currently being showered with billions of dollars in investment. The general technological trend fueling this development is called bio convergence.

PTTGC America (GCA) and the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio have entered into a MOU to develop and operate a new recycling complex in Swaco’s green economy business park in Ohio, USA. The complex, which includes the construction of a new plant, is expected to manufacture recycled polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate into products.

Milliken & Company and Pure Cycle Technologies have introduced a new odorless concentrate which has been made from recycled polypropylene resin. It is claimed to be the first fully sustainable concentrate for PP in the market.

Air Liquide has given up its minority stake of 19 % in Hydrogenics Corporation, a fuel cell and hydrogen production technologies provider, to Cummins who owns 81 % of the company.

Krones has developed its first in-house solution – the Krones Ozonomic ozoniser for ozonising water. The solution breaks down oxygen and forms ozone molecules which are added to the drinking water before filling it. With this, the company has expanded its portfolio of water-packaging equipment.

Nuberg EPC has secured an engineering, procurement, and construction management service contract for developing Chemfab Alkalis’ 250 TPD Chlor-Alkali plant project in Karaikal, Puducherry, India. The EPC firm has plans to use the latest bi-polar membrane-based electrolysis system technology for the project.

The increasingly relevant climate change coupled with the worldwide static increase in energy consumption by industry and private households requires us to rethink. New climate-neutral alternatives are being promoted more and more. One of the biggest hopes in the field of climate neutrality is hydrogen. But what is hydrogen? How can we produce it and where can it help us?

Sinopec has selected Lummus’ Novolen technology for its new 500 kilo ton per annum polypropylene plant in China. Lummus’ scope includes the technology license, basic design engineering, training and project engineering services for the project.

Pharmalex, one of the leading providers of specialised services for the pharma, biotech and medical device industries, has offered an insight into the many dynamics of Mergers and Acquistions in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sector.

Specialty chemicals company Perstorp introduces 2-Ethylhexanol based on 25 % renewable raw material according to a traceable mass balance concept. 2-EH Pro 25 is designed to reduce the carbon footprint throughout the value chain.