Lectorenplatform Biobased Economy active at DAS Conferentie 2025

The DAS Conference is a day for professors of applied sciences, lecturers, researchers, and professionals from the field to come together and reflect on the future of applied research and education. With a diverse program featuring interactive sessions, workshops, and pitches, this year’s edition focused on societal impact, technological innovation, and the role of universities of applied sciences in the sustainable transition.

The two sessions demonstrated how practice-based research drives the biobased transition:

Life Cycle Analysis – From Chain to Impact
By Alexander Compeer and Jappe de Best (MNEXT/Avans University of Applied Sciences)
In this session, participants engaged in a game designed to provide insight into the principles and possibilities of Life Cycle Analysis (LCAs), and how they can be used to understand the environmental impact of products and processes. LCA offers tools to make well-founded, sustainable choices in both research and practice.

After a short introduction on environmental impact and how LCA can be used to measure it, participants dove into the game. The task involved creating a wood-based product, with its specific application revealed only during the game. Participants analyzed various environmental impact categories across the full product chain. In an interactive way, they learned the basics of LCA and the key considerations that come with it. This sparked engaging discussions—one of the intended outcomes of the game. The game was very well received, with several participants expressing interest in using it within their own educational institutions.

Fermentation Technology in the Biobased Economy
By Richèle Wind, Laura Claret Fernandez (HAN University of Applied Sciences), Janneke Krooneman (Hanze University of Applied Sciences) & Jasper Meijer (MNEXT/Avans University of Applied Sciences)
This session highlighted the role of fermentation in developing biobased alternatives to fossil resources. Using concrete examples from education and research, the applicability and added value of this technology were clearly demonstrated. Researchers from the three universities of applied sciences presented work on the fermentation of cotton fibers into natural dyes using fungal cultures, the production of PHA (a bioplastic), and the development of fungal-based colorants for various applications such as textiles, packaging, and more.

Each university also showcased how fermentation is integrated into education, the opportunities it presents, and the challenges encountered. The presentations were followed by a lively discussion with the audience on how to inspire students to become enthusiastic about fermentation and consider it as a study and career path.

Both sessions attracted a diverse audience and were valuable contributions to the conference, which emphasized knowledge sharing and collaboration.

About Lectorenplatform Biobased Economy

Lectorenplatform Biobased Economy focuses on the innovation and adoption of biobased materials and energy—key components of the circular economy.

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