May 28, 2012, Qingdao - Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT), 

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and TOTAL S.A co-organized 4th TOTAL China Scientific Forum (TCSF) in Qingdao, dedicated to the Advanced Biotechnology for fuels and Chemicals based on non-food biomass. Around 150 Chinese and foreign biotechnological experts from universities, research institutes and companies, had a wide exchange over microalgae, cellulose and latest progress of biotechnology for energy and Chemical industry.

TOTAL Senior Vice President for Scientific Development, Jean-Fran？ois Minster, General Representative of TOTAL in China, Mr. Bertrand de la Noue, kicked off the Forum together with deputy director of Qingdao Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Mr. XU Hui, and QIBEBT deputy director general Prof. LU Xuefeng.

"Energy supply and conservation, and environmental protection are important challenges for sustainability and economic growth.” said Bertrand de la Noue, “We, at TOTAL, believe advanced biotechnology offer us a new route to utilize alternative non-food feedstock for energy and chemical production, while meeting environmental concern.”

LU Xuefeng expressed that this Forum is a concrete outcome under the spirit of Memorandum of Understanding signed between CAS and TOTAL S.A in June 2010. The forum will focus on liquid biofuels and chemicals R&D achievement, technology transfer and industrialization. This Forum will undoubtedly provide a platform to promote in-depth cooperation in the field of bio-energy, and promote the industrialization of bioenergy technology.

QIBEBT Professor LU Xuefeng and Professor XU Jian were invited to give talks on photosynthesis production of biofuels in genetically engineered cyanobacteria and consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) of cellulosic biomass. Professor LIU Tianzhong was invited as the chairman at the session of algae to fuel and chemicals.