"Discussions about conversion of renewable feedstocks such as starch, sugars or biomass are dominated by the focus on firstand second-generation bioethanol. The existing technology of starch hydrolysis to fermentable sugars can also be exploited for the production of other compounds (e.g., chemicals or novel fuels). A prerequisite for this are microbial cells designed to produce a specific compound via metabolic pathway engineering. Biotechnology routes to manufacture chemicals and fuels are increasingly attractive in the high-petroleumprice world."

Objective1:Present an update on metabolic pathway developments and the impact this technology will have in the field of biobased product commercialization.

Objective2:Detail scenarios and potential business models that will reflect commercialization opportunities.

Objective3:Describe venture capital, R&D possibilities and strategies and identify value drivers for future partnerships.