​Abstract:  After having set out a number of principles and tools essential for building an open innovation strategy, this conference focuses on a number of examples of pre-industrial and industrial achievements in the use of CO2, compounds and polymers bio-based for the development of new surfactants, interface agents and radical scavengers. All of this work highlights the importance of a strategy based on strong collaboration between the Academy and Industry.

Biography: International Consultant in Open Innovation Strategy. He was Senior Vice President Research and
Innovation & Executive Director Solvay Group. He is Associate Professor at Instituto Quimica,
Universitad Politecnica de Valencia (Spain) , Invited Professor at ENSCP (Paris University) and at
Agence Nationale de la Recherche (US equiv. NSA)..

What characterizes Dr Gérard MIGNANI is his passion for the Sciences, whose chemistry is relayed
by his strong force of innovations in order to solve important scientific and industrial challenges by
bringing new methodologies. His professional activities have always been in close and effective
collaboration with the academic world, which has led to the development of innovative technological
solutions, some of which have been the subject of international patents, high-level articles and
industrial developments such as: Intermediaries of vitamin A, functionalized silicone materials,
ceramic materials, NLO & OLED materials, biomass transformations, CO2 valorizations ....

Dr. Gérard Mignani did his scientific studies at the University of Orsay (Paris) and at the University of Rennes, at the
National School of Chemistry of Rennes (Lavoisier Medal of the Schools of Engineering - Major of Promotion, 1977)
and at the University of Rennes (DEA of Organic Chemistry, Pr Carrier, DEA Inorganic Chemistry, Pr Lucas). PhD
(Chemistry) thesis in 1980 and second PhD (Physical sciences) thesis in 1981 in the field of organometallic chemistry,
specifically homogeneous catalysis of steroids (Activation CH) including quantum chemistry (Catalysis), in Pr. R
Dabard (University of Rennes, financing Rhône-Poulenc) (Congratulations from the Jury).

In 1980, he joined the Rhône-Poulenc Group (Lyon Research Center, France) where he developed new methodologies
in organic synthesis (electronic transfers, catalysis at interfaces, ...), new catalytic systems (homogeneous and
heterogeneous) for access to Vitamin A , E, D, biotin, ketoprofen, terpenes ... During this period, Dr. Gerard Mignani
collaborated strongly with Professor Marc Julia on the development of strategies for access to vitamins (A and E) and
catalytic systems water-soluble. This work was concretized by industrial pilot tests. He has also collaborated closely with
Professor Christian Amatore on the chemistry of anion radicals and cations for electronic processes.

Dr. Gérard Mignani then completed a postdoctoral assignment at Prof. Seyferth - Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (Cambridge, USA) in the field of organometallic precursors of ceramics: TiN, HfN, ZrN, SiNC ...
(Mechanical and electronic properties) and in the field of cyclic polysiloxanes. This work made it possible to find
operating conditions for access to pure TiN via simple organometallic precursors. This work was done in close
collaboration with the Materials Department of Material sciences in MIT.

Back at Rhône-Poulenc, then Rhodia and later Solvay, he held several positions as Service Manager, Fellow Scientist
and Scientific Expert in the fields of : Organic chemistry and related catalyst, organometallic chemistry, material sciences
( Optics, electronic,..), functionalization of natural compounds, cross-metathesis catalysts, carbene chemistries, antisoots
compounds,..

Dr. Gérard Mignani has been part of the CNRS National Committee (Commission N ° 12) and participates in the
evaluation of ANR projects. He is also a member of the scientific committee of SYNTEFF (University of Oslo) and the
Walloon competitiveness cluster: GREEWIN. For the RHODIA Companies and currently SOLVAY, he is the
correspondent of many professors including Pr A .Corma, Pr Guy Bertrand, Pr Christian Amatore and also with Dr. Luc
Langer (Company Materia Nova, Surface chemistries), Pr Z.Zhu ( EPFL)...

These works has been the subject of numerous international patents and high-level scientific articles independently or
as part of academic collaborations.

One of Dr. Gérard Mignani's missions is to build and develop essential bridges between basic research and industrial challenges. His work has been the subject of numerous academic and industrial collaborations.

Dr Gerard Mignani has contributed at more 90 international articles (Science, Angew Chem,..), 2 book chapter, 3 Chem
Rev and more 152 patents including 75 US patents (WO & PCT) in many scientific and industrial areas.
Dr Gerard Mignani has presented around 20 talks at international conferences and teaches at Paris, Rennes and other
Universities.

MORE INFORMATION

• CONTACTLinda J. Sapolu
• EMAILLinda.Sapolu@kaust.edu.sa