Forward-Thinking Innovation at the Mistra SafeChem Breakfast Seminar

On 27 November, Mistra SafeChem brought together researchers and industry representatives for a morning seminar exploring how digital tools and green chemistry can accelerate safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) product development.

Per-Olof Syrén from KTH, opened the session with an insightful presentation on how biocatalysis and synthetic biology can unlock new pathways to circular materials and safer chemical building blocks. His presentation showcased advances in polymer design, depolymerisation and engineered enzyme systems that enable selective, low-hazard synthesis. The research demonstrates the potential to design greener polymers, improve recyclability and reduce environmental impacts through biologically inspired chemistry.

The seminar then shifted when Lidia Ceriani and Mojca Fuart Gatnik from Merck offered insightful explorations on New Approach Methods (NAMs) and innovative SSbD tools. They highlighted how advanced QSAR models, AI-supported predictions and integrated digital workflows can deliver faster and more scalable safety assessments, reducing reliance on animal testing while strengthening regulatory robustness. Their ongoing collaboration within Mistra SafeChem aims to expand predictive capacity, refine models for aquatic toxicity and support real-world SSbD case studies.

Together, the presentations offered a compelling vision of how digital innovation and green chemistry can jointly accelerate the transition towards safer and more sustainable chemical products. The discussions underscored a shared message: combining computational foresight with biocatalysis will be essential to achieving the next generation of sustainable chemicals solutions.

You can now watch the full recording of the seminar on this link. External link.