The Chemical Industry Federation of Finland’s Innovation Awards go to the fighters against antibiotic resistance and Parkinsons’ disease
Winners of the Innovation Award 2018 of the Chemical Industry Federation of Finland are Progres®, a feed ingredient refined from tall oil developed by Forchem and Hankkija, and the CDNF protein treatment for Parkinsons’ disease developed by Herantis Pharma and the team of the Institute of Biotechnology in University of Helsinki. The award was presented at the Chemical Industry Federation event Kemiat kohtaavat in Helsinki on 17 April 2018.
The Chemical Industry Federation of Finland rewards companies and professionals in the chemical industry with the Innovation Award, which is granted every second year and has a total value of EUR 20,000. The purpose of the award is to encourage the research and product development teams of companies, universities and research institutes to develop new chemical products and services. We look for big and small innovations that improve the well-being of people and the environment in everyday life as well as in industrial production processes.
Progres®, a feed ingredient developed by Forchem and Hankkija from tall oil, may be used to replace antibiotics in feed to improve the sustainability of livestock production and food purity. Progres® has already been awarded several patents and it is extensively used to address the global need to replace feed antibiotics in livestock production.
The CDNF protein treatment for Parkinson’s disease developed by Herantis Pharma and the team of the Institute of Biotechnology in University of Helsinki has been shown to be an effective protector of neurons, both alleviating symptoms and also potentially halting the progress of the disease. The development of the biological medical preform is now in the phase of placebo controlled clinical trials in European Parkinson’s disease research centres.
“The standard of the competition entries for the Chemical Industry Federation’s Innovation Awards was excellent, and there were numerous scientifically sound and attractive candidates. The winners are united in their great potential in tackling major global challenges, such as antibiotic resistance and neurological diseases”, says Petri Lehmus, Vice President of Research and Technology at Neste Corporation and the chair of the Innovation Committee of the Chemical Industry Federation of Finland.
“Chemistry is a globally growing industry and a constantly evolving natural science that unites different fields and people. It is fantastic to see how collaboration helps to turn great ideas into products or services that can substantially improve the quality of life”, says Timo Leppä, Managing Director of the Chemical Industry Federation of Finland.
“Education, research and innovations are the cornerstones of Finland’s prosperity. The shared vision of the Ministry of Education and Culture and higher education institutions is to create internationally attractive hubs of research and innovation that would bring together players from a variety of fields. They would help the producers and the users of information meet, and they would be the places where new skills and science come to existence and new products and services are created”, says Minister of Education, Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.
Lisätietoja
The Chemical Industry Federation of Finland
Carmela Kantor-Aaltonen, Senior advisor, Innovations, secretary of the Innovation Award Selection Committee, carmela.kantor-aaltonen@kemianteollisuus.fi, tel. +358 50 4045 166
Susanna Aaltonen, Director, Public Affairs, susanna.aaltonen@kemianteollisuus.fi, tel. +358 40 593 4221
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The chemical industry is one of the most important industrial sectors in Finland. It accounts for about 20% of the industrial production and the export of goods. We employ almost 100,000 people directly, indirectly and through the income created by the industry.
The Finnish chemical industry covers the chemical process industry, oil products and other chemical products such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, detergents, paints, plastics and rubber products.
The Chemical Industry Federation of Finland is a trade association for the chemical industry and its affiliate industries. The goal of the association is to actively promote the competitiveness and operational preconditions of its members in Finland. The Chemical Industry Federation of Finland has almost 400 member companies and 13 member and cooperation associations.
