SCI's Daily Digest: your one-stop shop for all of the day's news in science based industry

In today's Daily Digest, a list of 'serious risks facing the UK' has been released by government, the first gathering of the Semiconductor Advisory Panel, and more.

Energy

The UK government is providing £22 million in funding to boost its renewable scheme, making available contracts for renewable power generation. The government said that the Contracts for Difference scheme plays a key role in boosting the UK’s energy security.

The UK government met with energy companies across renewables, oil, gas and nuclear, where projects to be built in the UK, worth up to £100 billion, were outlined. Government and industry also agreed on the importance of working together across a number of areas including making progress towards net-zero.

Agriscience

The UK government is providing funding of £9 million for phase two of a ‘ground breaking’ endemic livestock disease initiative. The funding is part of a £11.5 million initiative to ‘revolutionise the livestock sector,’ the aim being to deliver innovative on-farm solutions that will mitigate the impact of endemic diseases on the livestock sector.

Health

The European Food Safety Authority, along with the European Commission and EU Member States are launching the PlantHealth4Life Campaign. The campaign will promote the link between plant health and it impact on everyday life.

Environment

BASF has completed a Life Cycle Assessment study on polyamides from chemically recycled or renewable raw materials in mozzarella packaging. The company worked with partners to examine the use of different sustainable feed stocks in flexible multi-layer mozzarella packaging.

Other news

Leading semiconductor manufacturers are meeting with the UK government’s Technology Minister today, 3 August, for the first gathering of the Semiconductor Advisory Panel. As well as experts from the industry, the panel will have input from business and technology sectors, as venture capital, skills and research. The panel, which will six time a year, will work to boost the UK’s semiconductor sector and grow the economy.

The UK government has released a list of ‘serious risks facing the UK,’ which includes disruption of energy supply. This National Risk Register is said to be the most transparent and comprehensive ever released.

Ineos and Sinopec have completed the formation of a 50:50 jv for the Tianjin Nangang Ethylene Project, announced at the end of 2022. The project, which is centred on a 1.2 million tonne/year ethylene cracker, is due to start up in April 2024.

BASF has said that it is to increase its output of medium-molecular weight polyisobutenes at its site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, by 25%. Used in a range of industries including automotive, electronics and packaging, BASF said the increased output was to meet rising demand.