Andrea Mele got his education at the University of Genova (Italy) where he obtained his Degree in Chemistry (1986, cum laude) defending a thesis in synthetic organic chemistry. His Ph.D dissertation (Dottorato di Ricerca, 1989) with Prof. Carlo Dell’Erba was in physical organic chemistry on the use of heteronuclear NMR (13C and 17O-NMR) for the assessment of electron distribution in model aromatic compounds. He moved as post-doc to Oxford University (UK, 1990-91) joining the NMR unit of the Glycobiology Institute directed by Prof. Raymond A. Dwek. The research project consisted in the development of new NMR pulse sequences for the investigation of oligosaccharides at 13C natural abundance. His academic career started in 1993 at the Politecnico di Milano as Research Assistant. He was promoted Associate Professor of Chemistry in 2002 at the Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “Giulio Natta” of the Politecnico di Milano. He is currently co-chair of the NMR Facilities (with Dr. Giovanni Fronza, CNR-Milano) and chair of the Mass Spectrometry Laboratory of the Department. His scientific interests are focused in the investigation of non-covalent interactions via NMR and mass spectrometry, with special emphasis on inclusion complexes of cyclodextrins, aggregation phenomena and mesoscopic order in ionic liquids, and encapsulation of organic molecules in the polar core of reversed micelles. He is author/co-author of 85 papers on peer-reviewed journals.

Andreas Meudt studied chemistry at the University of Giessen in Germany, receiving his PhD in 1996, with special focus on organometallic chemistry. He joined Merck KGaA in Darmstadt, Germany, in 1997. In 1998, he joined Clariant as a research chemist. In the following years, he took over broader responsibility by being group leader for Organometallic chemistry from 2000, MSC Head from 2003, and Head of the whole German R&D department in 2004. After the acquision of the Clariant LSM activities by TowerBrook in 2006, he got Managing Director of the newly founded BU MSC, which is a BU dedicated to New Business Development with a strong service orientation, and took over responsibility for Global R&D of Archimica. In parallel to this, he had a busy time earning an MBA degree from US Northwestern University and Germany WHU. He is now involved in the development of new business and new technologies for the Archimica Group, both combining his passions for developing new problem solutions and strong customer relationships, with the ultimate target of producing large quantities of newly developed products. He is a strong believer in the statement that many problems can be solved by simply testing instead of looking for reasons why it cannot work because "otherwise somebody else would already have tried it.", however, before any work, a very thorough evaluation of literature should be done. As an example, one of these experiments resulted in Archimica´s lithium technology, which allows his company to use lithium metal instead of butyllithium in a very general reaction. This discovery was one of the most important moments and discoveries in his career so far. Besides organometallic chemistry, his scientific interests are in the areas of enzymatic and heterocyclic chemistry

Anna Maria Papini studied chemistry at the University of Florence in Italy. She received her PhD in 1990, developing a multidisciplinary project with special focus on peptide science in the context of an international research pathway (Department of Biochemistry of the University of Sherbrooke, Québec; Department of Peptide Chemistry, Max Planck Institut fuer Biochemie, Martinsried, Germany; Department of Organic Chemistry of the University of Florence, Italy). In 1995, she launched the first Peptide Chemistry Laboratory at the University of Florence. In 1998, she joined for 6 months the University of Cergy-Pontoise in France as a visiting scientist. In 2001 she was appointed professor of the French universities and since 2002 she is associate professor of bioorganic chemistry at the University of Florence. She cofounded with her colleagues bioorganic and medicinal chemists, neuroimmunologists and clinicians the first Interdepartmental Laboratory of Peptide & Protein Chemistry & Biology at the Polo Scientifico e Tecnologico of the University of Florence (Italy). PeptLab is composed of ca. 30 young researchers, Post-docs and PhD students working in 4 different units: synthesis and purification, post-translational peptidomics, and immunochemistry. She introduced the “Chemical Reverse Approach” to develop post-translational modified peptides as synthetic probes to detect and fishing out specific and high affinity antibodies as biomarkers of autoimmune diseases. As proof of concept she developed a synthetic glycopeptide, lead compound of MS PepKit, the diagnostic/prognostic assay detecting specific antibodies in Multiple Sclerosis. In 2003 she founded the first Academic Spin-off of the University of Florence, EspiKem Srl, Contract Research Organization involved in isolation, characterisation, design, and synthesis of post-translational modified peptide, peptidomimetic, and protein antigens for in vitro diagnostics Since 2007 she is President of the Scientific Committee of the start-up company Toscana Biomarkers Srl that she founded as an R&D Biotech for innovative diagnostic/prognostic assays based on post-translational modified peptides as synthetic probes to be used in the identification of specific autoantibodies in sera of patients, as biomarkers of autoimmune diseases. Validation of the assays is aimed to develop useful tools not only as diagnostics but most importantly for the follow-up patients to support clinical evaluation of drugs (new and orphans), in the context of translational researches from bench to bedside. Toscana Biomarkers is bioincubated by Toscana Life Sciences Foundation and located within the Scientific Park of Torre Fiorentina, Siena. The Company, funded by institutional closed-end funds, started its operations in March 2007.Her scientific and technology transfer activities were awarded since the end of nineties with several prizes. In 2008, she was recognised recipient of the 1st Dimitrios Theodoropoulos Memorial Lecture Award for outstanding achievements in peptide sciences, and of the Leonidas Zervas Award 2008 for outstanding contribution made to peptide chemistry.Her main research interests are in the field of chemistry and physics of biomolecules for life sciences studying peptides and proteins involved in the molecular mechanisms of physiological and pathological conditions. She is involved in the development of synthetic & semi-synthetic strategies to co- or post-translational modified peptides, in particular glycoconjugates as diagnostic and prognostic tools for human, animal, and plant diseases. Studying the role of co- or post-translational modifications of peptides and proteins, she performs immunochemistry studies by conventional assays (ELISA) and more innovative ones (biosensors, electrochemical devices, etc.) for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of autoimmune diseases, e.g. multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. characterising biomarkers of disease activity with a particular attention to “theranostics” and developing innovative immunotherapeutic strategies. Her strong synthetic approach has always been focused to the development of efficient strategies to exotic amino acids orthogonally protected for peptide synthesis (constrained amino acids, glycosyl and lipophilic amino acids, etc.), cyclic peptide and peptidomimetic analogues (dicarba analogs, clicked peptides, etc.), coupling reagents for solid phase chemistry (amide and ester bond formation) by conventional and alternative approaches (i.e., microwave-assisted). Moreover, in the context of immune-mediated diseases she develops labelled peptide analogues for cancer pre-targeting diagnosis & therapy.

Dr. Hans Henniges, born 1965 in Sande (Germany), completed his high school education at the Lothar-Meyer-Gymnasium in Varel in 1984 with the Abitur. After two years of voluntary service in the German army and continuing military exercises he was promoted to Lieutenant and subsequently first Lieutenant. In 1986 he entered the faculty of chemistry at the Georg-August-Universität, in Göttingen, achieving his Vordiplom (Master) in 1989. With a thesis about a new synthetic route towards Alkyl 2-alkoxy cyclopropane carboxylates in Prof. Dr. Armin de Meijere’s group in Göttingen, Henniges earned his Diploma in Chemistry in 1991. The summer of 1991 he spent at the University of Bangor in Northern Wales under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Mark S. Baird, working on a new access to unsaturated -Amino butyric acid (GABA)-derivatives. Back at Göttingen Henniges started his PhD thesis in Prof. de Meijere’s group about Palladium-catalyzed couplings and electrocyclizations, supported by a grant from the “Fonds der Chemischen Industrie”. After gaining the “Doktor der Naturwissenschaften” (Ph D) from the University of Göttingen in late 1994 he joined the research group of Prof. P. J. Parsons at the University of Reading as a research associate fellow to work on a natural product synthesis. In June 1995 he left Europe to spend a year at “The Scripps Research Institute” in La Jolla, San Diego, USA. Awarded with a scholarship from the “Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)” he discovered in Prof. Barry K. Sharpless’ labs a new and efficient synthetic route towards Aziridines. After his return to Germany Dr. Henniges started his industrial career in the R&D labs of Degussa AG in Hanau, working for three years on the process development of pharmaceutical intermediates. Then he moved to a former Huels site, following with the merger of Degussa and Huels into Degussa-Huels. There he worked for another two years on the up-scaling of heterocycles in the Fine Chemicals business unit. Dr. Henniges then took the rather unusual decision (for a chemist) to join the new procurement department of the Fine Chemicals business unit. His tasks were to assist in setting up the new department, and more specifically, to intensify the in sourcing of raw materials from India and China as well as the outsourcing of intermediates. By doing so he left behind the challenges of real chemistry discovery, but experienced the tremendous hospitality of Asia and its cultural richness, as well as the huge problems of the developing countries. Dr. Henniges was responsible for sourcing at the Degussa corporate procurement level for another few years until he left the then RAG Group, which had acquired Degussa in the meantime, to join Saltigo GmbH, the fine chemicals business of Lanxess AG. This move also represented a career change. As a Group Leader Marketing & Sales in the Business Line Pharma he is currently responsible for managing business with the so called “big Pharma” companies in the US.

Ian Grayson was educated in Stafford, England, and studied at Cambridge University, under the supervision of Stuart Warren, receiving his PhD in 1977. After post-doctoral studies with Wolfgang Oppolzer in Geneva, he worked as a research chemist at Lonza’s plant in Visp, Swizterland. Returning to the UK in 1985, he joined Laporte as a development chemist, having the responsibility for scale-up and plant introduction of many fine chemical processes for pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals at the Fine Organics site in Middlesbrough. On the purchase of Laporte by Degussa in 2001, he worked for the Technology and R&D Management Department in Degussa’s Fine Chemicals Business Unit. He is now involved in new technologies and public relations for Degussa Exclusive Synthesis. I believe that one of most satisfying aspects of work as a process development chemist is to see the reaction run successfully on the plant, and for every batch to run with a consistent yield and quality. The reward is when you see your product on the centrifuge or in the distillation receiver, looking the same as when you made it in the laboratory. One of the memorable moments was starting a Grignard reaction in diethyl ether on a 5000 lts scale, with more than 100 kg of magnesium in the reactor. And a golden rule: whatever eventualities you prepare for in process development, when you get to the production plant, something you have never envisaged will certainly happen.

Ian Lennon graduated from the University of St. Andrews in 1985 with a BSc in chemistry then worked for Merck, Sharp & Dohme Harlow, Essex in drug discovery for 4 years.In 1989 he left Merck to study for a PhD with Steve Ley at Imperial College, London, working on a synthesis of the ionophore antibiotic tetronasin. After completion of his PhD he carried out an industrial post-doc with Parke-Davis in Cambridge, UK.In 1993 Ian joined a small start-up company called Chiros and was soon promoted to Group Leader of Chemocatalysis. Chiros added drug discovery to its chiral technology portfolio and was launched on the London Stock Exchange as Chiroscience in 1994.In 1995 Ian was given the opportunity to work with Barry Trost at Stanford University to evaluate his palladium(0) catalysed asymmetric allylic alkylation technology, for which Chiroscience obtained an exclusive license in 1997.In 1996 the chiral technology function of Chiroscience was ring fenced and called Technology Services and became Chirotech Technology Ltd in 1998. A highlight of Ian¡¦s career was the leadership of the team that developed the manufacturing route for travoprost, a prostaglandin analogue for Alcon Laboratories. The molecule has 5 chiral centres and two stereo-defined olefins, which required 22 synthetic steps. The team produced material for toxicology and clinical trials. Ian was promoted to Head of Collaborative Research and was responsible for all of the external projects funded by fine chemical and pharmaceutical companies.In 1999 Chirotech was purchased by Ascot and along with Mitchell Cotts in West Yorkshire, became known as Ascot Fine Chemicals. In 2000 Ian¡¦s responsibilities were extended to include management of the chemocatalysis core research team, developing new applications for Chirotech¡¦s in-licensed technology, including DuPhos, Phanephos, the Noyori/Ikariya ketone hydrogenation¡¦s and Trost technology. The team is also involved in the development of new ligands for asymmetric hydrogenation. Ascot was acquired by The Dow Chemical Company in 2001 and Chirotech is now part of the Dowpharma business of The Dow Chemical Company. Ian is currently an Application Development Scientist for Chemocatalysis and is involved with the development of Dowpharma¡¦s asymmetric chemocatalysis capability, promotion of chiral technology and with the management of customer projects.¡§Whilst working on a synthesis of tert-leucine I proposed to react 2-bromo-3,3-dimethyl butyric acid with ammonia to produce the desired amino acid. Many colleagues in the laboratory looked at this and said it would not work as the bromide was neopentyl and too hindered to react. I carried out reaction anyway and obtained an 80% yield with the racemate and an 85% yield of (S)-amino acid starting with the (S)-bromo acid.The reaction proceeds by forming a ƒÑ-lactone, hence the double inversion seen in the single isomer reaction. The lesson I learnt was not to talk myself out of trying a reaction just because it looks like it will not work. You can learn more by carrying out the reaction, than just deciding not to try. Also, an hour in the library (now more likely to be Scifinder) can save a week in the laboratory.

Joe Pont carried out his undergraduate studies in chemistry at Yale University. He then joined the research group of Prof. E. C. Taylor at Princeton University, where he explored the scope and limitations of 1,2,4-triazine intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions, and the application of this chemistry to the synthesis of novel folic acid analogues. Beginning in 1988, he spent the first eleven years of his industrial career with American Cyanamid in Princeton, NJ USA and Schwabenheim, Germany, in successive roles as a Research Chemist, Group Leader and Research Manager in Cyanamid’s agrochemical discovery unit. In 1999, he then moved from research into the commercial world, initially for two years with Kingchem Inc (USA) as Director of Marketing, Fine Chemicals and Intermediates, and then on to Lonza in successive commercial roles in custom manufacturing: as Key Account Manager based in the US (2001 – 2005) and as Head of Sales & Business Development, Europe/ROW based in Basel (2006 – 2007). In 2008, Joe moved back to his research roots with his appointment as Head of Research & Development for Lonza’s Exclusive Synthesis business sector. Major interests are in the area of HPAI and antibody-drug conjugate manufacturing, microreactor technology and its application to cGMP commercial-scale manufacturing, as well as chemical and biocatalysis. Joe Pont is the author of 12 scientific publications and has been named as inventor on more than 9 international patent applications.

Luciano Caglioti was born in Rome on 11/13/1933.
Since Feb. 1, 1971 he has been Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Rome "La Sapienza".
He has published more than a hundred scientific papers, most of which have appeared in international journals. He has 8 industrial patents to his credit, and is the author of three books, two on Organic Chemistry and one on Chemistry of Natural Substances, which are used as textbooks in many Italian universities.He published a book on popular science, " I due volti della chimica" (The Two Faces of Chemistry) for EST (Mondadori Publishing House), with a preface by Primo Levi, translated into English by MIT Press. He has also published a short essay, "Madre Natura, anzi Matrigna", printed by Sperling & Kupfer, 1993.
From July 1980 through Aug. 1990 he was Director of the (Finalized) Project of the National Research Council (C.N.R.), "Fine and Secondary Chemistry".
He is a member of the New York Academy of Science, of Accademia dei XL, of Hungarian Academy of Science, of Accademia di Modena.He is part of the Commission for planning in the field of the Pharmaceutical Industry.
He has been Chairman of the Italian Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Research (Israel).
In 1988, Minister Ruberti appointed him co-ordinator of the Commission for the National Plan for Research in Chemistry.
In 1989 Ministers Ruberti and Ruffolo appointed him among the members of a preparatory committee for the National Program for Environmental research.
He was elected as Faculty representative, to the National University Council (CUN).Since 1994, he has been co-ordinator of the Strategic Project of CNR for utilization of results from public research in the industrial sphere.
In 1993 Minister U. Colombo appointed him as a member of the committee for the drafting of the Research Plan in Chemistry.
Since 1993 he has been chairman of ISRIM (Superior Institute for the Study and Research in Material Science).He is the Italian delegate in the EEC Commission for Environmental Research.
A NOTE FROM THE EXPERT
"I remember I was once awarded with an an honoris causa degree in Engineering at the Polytechnic University in Budapest. After the ceremony, I had lunch together with the Faculty Dean and the President of the Institute and a number of other colleagues of mine. I was sitting right between the two and they started speaking in Latin to put me at ease, since I guess they weren't keen on speaking English and they had probably learned about my school background and must have thought I spoke Latin rather well.The problem was that I could not speak any Latin even though I had studied it for 8-9 years back in the old school days. So I answered to them in English. They kept on speaking in Latin and I responded in English throughout the whole lunch. What a very poor figure I made!"

Dr Mahmoudian’s career spans some 20 years in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and chemical sectors. He joined Merck & Co. USA in 2007 with responsibility for external partnerships and outsourcing activities in vaccines & biologics on a global basis. In 2005 he joined Rohm & Haas Biotech USA, as the Global Director of R&D, Alliances & Partnerships in Biotechnology (US $500 million sales), directing activities in research centres globally (USA, Europe, China, Japan), covering a diverse portfolio including healthcare, biopharmaceuticals, and biosciences. From 2002 to 2005 he was employed at Eastman Biotech USA, as the Head of Biotechnology & Strategic Alliances worldwide, responsible for R&D, alliances, and managing the growth and development of its BioProducts portfolio. From 1989 to 2002, he worked at GlaxoSmithKline England, in a variety of research, technology and management roles of increasing responsibility, managing cross functional teams in Biotechnology that led to the discovery, development, and market launch of 6 blockbuster drugs with annual sales in excess of $15 billion. Prior to 1989 he was Senior Research Fellow at ICI BioProducts (Zeneca, Avecia) developing biotech routes to beta-blockers as cardiovascular agents.Dr Mahmoudian earned his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Imperial College at the University of London, England, and was awarded a B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Human Physiology from the University of Newcastle, England. He currently serves on the International Editorial Advisory Board of six scientific journals, is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and has numerous publications and patents to his name.Dr Mahmoudian's key accomplishments include 1) establishment of two biosciences business ventures, at Eastman and Rohm & Haas (2002 – 2007), via partnerships, licensing deals, and joint ventures, 2) discovery and development of six blockbusters at GlaxoSmithKline R&D, and 3) advisor to life sciences venture funds in Philadelphia USA, consulting on business plans and market & technology assessments, resulting in investment opportunities in several early to mid-stage biotech companies.

Michael Quirmbach studied chemistry at the University of Clausthal; Germany and the, University of Salford (UK). He then moved to the Max Planck Research Group "Asymmetric Catalysis" in Rostock, working on the development of new chiral bifunctional ligands and their application in asymmetric catalysis under the supervision of Prof. A. Börner. He conducted postdoctoral studies in the laboratories of Prof. G. A. Molander at the Universities of Colorado and Pennsylvania (US) working on the first total synthesis of Variecolin using a Sm(II)diiodide promoted Cascade reaction. He started his industrial career as a development chemist at Albany Molecular Research (AMRI), NY, moved than to Solvias AG and was appointed project leader in their chemical development group. During his tenure at Solvias he successfully developed numerous processes for Solvias' customers. He than joined Speedel in 2004 working on the development of new renin inhibitors and in 2005 completed his MBA from La Salle University, Philadelphia. In 2006, Michael Quirmbach, rejoined Solvias as a Business Development Manager Synthesis/Catalysis and was appointed as a Product Manager in 2007 for the Synthesis group. As a product manger he is now involved in the development of new business and technologies for Solvias’ Chemical Development group, which can be applied in the cost effective manufacturing of complex intermediates and APIs. Major interest are in the area of asymmetric synthesis and catalysis and Fluorine chemistry. Michael Quirmbach is the author of 10 scientific publications and has been named as inventor on more than 30 international patent applications. In addition, he serves as a peer reviewer for the Journals of Organic Chemistry and Organic Letters.

Michel Spagnol completed the first part of his education in France, graduating as a chemical engineer from the ENSC in Mulhouse. In 1987, he moved to the US and completed his PhD at Stanford University under the supervision of Pr. Barry Trost.
After his graduation he moved back to France, joining the Rhone–Poulenc group where he held several managerial positions in its central RD facility located in Lyon. The main focus of his work was directed towards the discovery and development of new catalysts for the synthesis of fine chemical.
During this time he authored more than 30 articles and patents and was awarded the “green chemistry award” for the industrialization of the first Friedel Craft process utilizing zeolithes. Following a 2 years appointment as Business development manager for the agrochemical market he return to the field of R&D as director of innovation and technology for the Rhodia life science systems enterprise.
Since the beginning of 2003, Michel has relocated to the head office in the US, and is currently working for the newly created Rhodia Pharma Solutions business as strategic and technical marketing vice president.
"After 2 years spent in lab with the team working very hard to develop a new process for acylation using a zeolithe based catalyst this was it, this was the one moment everyone had expected; we finally had the green light (and the money …) to start the kilo lab trial of our process. We were all much exited and spend the next week organizing for the trial as we had for the first time to work in shifts to be able to study the catalyst’s lifetime.
The operation was set up to start at 6:00 am the next day and we were reviewing the schedule, the organization, the analytical tools and eventually ...who would bring the TV and food for the night shifts...At 8 pm and after a long negotiation we were done, ready to go...well almost...In fact we had forgotten that we needed to pick up the catalyst that was supposed to be shipped the same day at our central store. When we showed up there to get it, the store was closed.
This was my first experience in understanding the importance of an efficient supply chain process and a true lesson was taught: when you want to run a catalytic process make sure you actually have a catalyst!Eventually we run the trial on time at 6:00 am, with the catalyst, as planned but I will only let you know the how in person as it is not necessarily, according to some, the highlight of my career..."

Born 1969 in Tübingen, Germany, Ph D thesis finished in 1997 in Organometallic Chemistry atLudwig Maximilians University of Munich with Prof. Wolfgang Beck, continued to work as post doctoral assistant until end of 1998. 1999 – 2001 Research and Process Development for manufacturing of organometallic Platinum group catalysts at Degussa. In the same unit, from 2001 until 2005 he was heading the applied technology group, responsible for recovery of Precious Metals from industrial homogeneous catalytic processes. Meanwhile, being a member of Umicore he changed his position in 2005 to be a “Marketing Director”, taking responsibility of developing new, strategic market fields related to Umicore’s Precious Metals Chemistry business.Current interests are all new applications related to the use of Precious metals. Among them are chiral catalysis, coupling catalysis, metathesis reactions, manufacture of functional surfaces, photo active compounds, electronic materials and others.

Peter Pollak attended all schools in Zurich, Switzerland and graduated as Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.
After joining the Alusuisse-Lonza Group in 1962 he first spent several years at its Italian subsidiary FTALITAL. In 1968, he was trasferred to the Basel head office where he built up LONZA's Fine Chemicals business. Under his guidance, this business has become one of LONZA's main industrial activities.
Within the chemical industry Peter Pollak is recognized as one of the leading experts in the Fine Chemical business.
"Shortly after graduation from the prestigious Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, I started to work as a lab chemist at the Central Research Institute of the Alusuisse Lonza group in Neuhausen, Switzerland. My duties included testing corrosion resistance of various aluminium alloys...-and was not very exciting. When I asked the research director for other job possibilities, he mentioned that a company called FTALITAL had just been acquired in Italy and they were looking for a young chemist.
Without many further questions, I got into my FIAT "Millecento" and drove all the way to Bergamo. Of my expectations, namely, wine, women and songs, the first two were fulfilled (my wife is from Bergamo and introduced me to the famous Italian wines), but instead of songs I experienced hard, but very gratifying work.The "highest" experience was climbing an exhaust chimney of the phthalic anhydride plant (it was not a very solid structure) and taking samples of the off-gases for chromatographic analysis.

Walter Navarrini graduated in Chemistry at the University of Milano in 1982. In 1985 he obtained a postgraduate degree at the Politecnico of Milano with a thesis on the oxidation of aromatic compounds at the School “Perfezionamento in Metodologie Chimiche e Analitiche della Chimica Organica Fine, A. Quilico”. In 1985 he obtained a postgraduate position at Clemson University, S.C., USA, working on the synthesis and reactivity of perfluoro oxaziridines. The research project was oriented towards the development of perfluorinated oxaziridines and epoxides in the group of Prof. D. D. DesMarteau. In 1987 Walter joined Ausimont, now Solvay-Solexis SPA, as senior chemist working on basic research in fluorine chemistry at the research center “Istituto Donegani” in Novara, Italy, The research was focused on new “formally unsaturated” fluorinated monomers like perfluoro oxaziridines and diaziridines. In 1990 Walter became responsible for the Ausimont “Advanced Fluorine Chemistry Group” at the “Istituto Donegani”. In that period he directed the research towards new synthetic methodologies for the preparation of perfluoropolyether monomers as well as perfluoro sulfonic monomers.In 1991 he moved with his group to the Ausimont R&D Center in Bollate, near Milano, while maintaining a leadership position in the “Advanced Fluorine Chemistry Group” at the Ausimont R&D Center. Here the research was primarily focused on the industrial development of the organic hypofluorites technology for the preparation of linear and cyclic fluoro-vinylether monomers. These studies allowed the identification of new industrial methodology assets for the preparation of perfluorinated monomers as well as amorphous and crystalline fluoropolymers. An appropriate extension of this technology to functionalized ipofluorite led to the development of a new industrial methodology for the preparation of perfluorinated ionomers for fuel cells and lithium battery applications.In 1999 Walter became responsible for a three-year research cooperative project between Ausimont and “La Sapienza” University in Rome. The project was focused on the generation of new lithium battery electrolytes based on SSC perfluorinated ionomeric material.In 2003, following Ausimont acquisition by Solvay to form Solvay-Solexis, he obtained the Fellow position as consultant on perfluoropolyethers peroxides chemistry and new perfluoro-vinylether monomers preparation. Since March 2005 Walter is professor at the Politecnico of Milano, assigned to the Solvay-Solexis academic chair at the Politecnico di Milano, where he joined the Nano Structured Fluorinate Material group directed by Prof. G. Resnati .Walter is the inventor of more than 60 international patents on hypofluorites, perfluorodiacyl peroxide, perfluorinated monomer, perfluororubber, new perfluorinated amorphous material, ionomeric material for lithium battery electrolytes, new environmental friendly hydrofluorocarbons, HFE (HydroFluoroEthers) products and innovative methodology preparation. The current scientific interests are centred on perfluoropolyether in biochemical applications, surface modification by means of free radical as well as ionic fluorination reagents.

Born 1956 in Hoofddorp, Netherlands (near Amsterdam), Ph D thesis finished in 1985 in organic chemistry at University of Groningen with Prof H. Hogeveen. Since 1985 to 1988 Design of new fragrance molecules for Flavour and Fragrances Company : Quest International.
Since 1988 various positions in the field of bio-organic chemistry R&D at DSM Research, Geleen, NL ( e.g in fields of agrochem, sweeteners, semi-synthetic antibiotics and pharma intermediates)
He is Corporate scientist ‘routescouting and selection’; activities aimed at integration of technology development in various competences into integrated process design for (pharmaceutical) intermediates. From this role also acting as Program Manager of the DSM Corporate Research program part on Advanced Synthetic Methods (ASM). In this program, DSM is developing new technologies in the direction where we think future industrial synthesis will go ( e.g. including integration of chemistry and biotechnology).

Current research interests focus on chirality, amino acid and peptide chemistry, design of industrially viable breakthrough routes and integration of biosynthesis and organic chemistry.