Evonik is hosting Transforming Tomorrow: Catalysis in Life Sciences on April 28, a symposium exploring how catalytic strategies and technologies are shaping the next generation of life science innovation. The event will highlight advances in catalytic processes, materials, and products that are enabling more efficient, scalable, and sustainable approaches to pharmaceutical and biotechnology development. Attendance is free.
Startups can register here to attend the symposium.
The event welcomes startups, founders, and aspiring entrepreneurs for an opportunity to engage with leading scientists and industry experts working at the forefront of catalysis and life sciences. Discussions will span topics such as sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing, reaction optimization, and emerging continuous flow technologies. The symposium is designed to provide practical technical insights while creating opportunities for dialogue between innovators, researchers, and industry leaders.
Key learnings for participants
Agenda
08:30 am | Registration & Light refreshments
Eric Neuffer
Drug Substance Business Head – New Business Development
Evonik Health Care
09:00 am | Welcome & Introduction
Gustavo Castro
Sr. Business Manager for North America
Evonik Catalysts
Anil Saxena
Head of Americas RD&I Open Innovation
Evonik Americas, Research, Development & Innovation
09:10 am | Heterogeneous Catalysis in Flow Chemistry & Nickel Foam
ShaRee Thomas
Applied Technology Manager
09:50 am | Hybrid-AI Digital Twins for Modeling & Scaling a Batch to Continuous Catalytic Hydrogenation
Trevor Murray
Strategic Account Executive – Life Sciences
Basetwo AI
10:30 am | Break
10:45 am | Overcoming the Selectivity Issue in a Nickel Catalyzed Batch Hydrogenation
Michael Nonnenmacher
Director Global Business Development Differentiating Technologies for Drug Substance
11:30 am | Using Interfacial Charge Separation to Understand and Control Catalysis
Prof. Yogesh Surendranath
Donner Professor of Science; Professor of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
12:15 pm | Lunch & Networking
01:15 pm | Heterogeneous Catalysis in CC Coupling
Maxim Radzhabov
Project Leader
01:55 pm | Selective Oxygenate Chemistry with Solid Acid Catalysts
Prof. Friederike Jentoft
Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
University of Massachusetts Amherst
02:40 pm | Guest Speaker
Andrea Adamo, Founder & CEO
Lorenzo Milani, Senior Chemical Engineer
Zaiput Flow Technologies
03:20 pm | Evonik Lab Tour
03:50 pm | Conclusion of Event
Evonik goes beyond the boundaries of chemistry with its combination of innovative strength and leading technological expertise. The global chemical company, headquartered in Essen, Germany, is active in more than 100 countries and generated sales of €14.1 billion and earnings (adjusted EBITDA) of €1.9 billion in 2025. The common motivation of the approximately 31,000 employees: to provide customers with a decisive competitive advantage with tailor-made products and solutions as a superforce for industry, thereby improving people's lives.
Disclaimer: MIT Startup Exchange can make introductions that ideally provide open ended discussions in order to share mutual interests and potentially create common ground that incite the parties to collaborate. MIT Startup Exchange introductions may eventually lead to mutual partnerships, but that is not in any way guaranteed by MIT, MIT Corporate Relations, MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP) or MIT Startup Exchange, which takes no responsibility for these outcomes and no formal part in such discussions following our introduction. MIT Startup Exchange and its activities and events are not for purposes of soliciting investment or offering securities.