Then and Now: 120 Bioeconomy Pioneers look at yesterday, today, inspirations and challenges

Marco Simone

Then: July 27, 2007 was just couple of days after my master degree dissertation in chemical engineering. The final step after a year of experimental trials and modelling activities. It was my first step into the world of biomass conversion, back then I was mainly into biomass pyrolysis, enjoying myself with char characterization of devolatilization kinetics.”

Now: Now I am mainly in the field of second generation sugars and ethanol. I am R&D engineer and I provide technical support to my company  in various forms.

Inspirations:  If you are curious, there is plenty of challenging opportunities to quench your thirst of science.

Challenges:  Frankly speaking things have moved much more slowly than I expected. In spite of all the enthusiastic claims and annoucements, the progress has been slow. However it is hard to find a single cause for it.