the Netherlands Organization
for Scientific Research (NWO),
Utrecht University, the Eindhoven
University of Technology and
Groningen University, the intention is to
combine the group’s knowledge and expertise to find ways to sustainably meet demand
for energy and materials in the future.
Known as the Advanced Research
Center Chemical Building Blocks
Consortium (ARC CBBC), a total of 11
million a year will be invested annually
by the partners, while up to 100 jobs are
also expected to be created.
With the global population expected
to rise to nine billion by 2050, a growing burden is being placed on the supply
of raw materials such as oils and metals.
This will constitute a challenge for sustainability and for the quality of life in urban areas, where an estimated 70 percent
of the world population will live.
The consortium will work together to
develop new chemical processes and build-
ing blocks in an effort to find sustainable
alternatives that will contribute to the
transition towards a circular economy.
AkzoNobel Unveils
Color Trends Guide for
Automotive and Consumer
Electronics
AkzoNobel has launched its latest color
and trends guide for the automotive and
consumer electronics markets. As well as
offering a glimpse at the design direction
for cars, smartphones and tablet computers, it also includes the company’s color
of the year for those markets, My Gold.
The 2016 guide was launched at a
special event staged at the McLaren
Technology Center in Woking in the UK.
AkzoNobel supplies the hi-tech coatings
for McLaren Racing’s Formula 1 car and
worked with McLaren Automotive to develop the spectacular color range for its
road car series.
“Our team searches the world for the
latest in design,” explained Stephie Sijssens,
color design manager for AkzoNobel
Performance Coatings. “We translate these
into four key trends, eight palettes and 72
color effects and textures. We want to in-
spire our industrial customers and togeth-
er develop the colors, effects and textures
for the products of the future.”
Now in its 11th year, the company car-
ries out its own detailed market research
to develop the guide and combines that
with input from external design experts.
The key word for the latest trends guide
is transition. “It’s about finding a balance
between extremes to create change from
within,” continues Sijssens.
“This trend is epitomized by My Gold,
which makes a timeless, yet personal
statement. It has the brilliance to turn
heads, but also combines extremely well
with other shades, such as classic black
and white, or new neutrals like dark
tones and soft pastels.”
The four key trends identified in the
latest report are:
•Archive – a combination of past
and future – about deconstructing,
