Éric Schaer is an engineer at ENSIC (French National School of Chemical Industries) and Professor at the University of Lorraine, France. His research extends to the implementation of homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions.Jean-Claude André is Research Director at CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research), researcher at the University of Lorraine, France and an ENSIC engineer. He focuses his research on light-matter interactions and associated process engineering.

• Foreword ixPreface xiiiIntroduction xxixChapter 1. From “Autonomous” Research to Societal Solutions 11.1. Positioning of process engineering 31.2. A forced transition 9Chapter 2. Highly “Autonomous” Research 212.1. Intensification 232.1.1. Reminders on microfluidics 242.1.2. Applications 282.2. Additive manufacturing 312.3. Nanotechnologies 39Chapter 3. Externally Stimulated Research 433.1. Chemistry and process engineering 453.2. Biotechnologies – bioprocess engineering 463.3. Impacts of digital technology 483.4. Product engineering 543.5. Materials and process engineering 573.6. Biomimicry and process engineering 603.6.1. Emergence of biomimetic concepts in PE 633.6.2. Applicability of biomimicry 643.7. Complexity and process engineering 643.7.1. Between complication and complexity 653.7.2. Complexity “quite simply” 663.7.3. To start the debate 67Chapter 4. Research in Response to Societal Questions 734.1. General framework 764.2. Some additional elements 864.2.1. Some additions and considerations 874.3. Energies 914.3.1. Biomass 964.3.2. Electrochemistry, photochemistry 994.3.3. Storage of electrical energy 1004.3.4. Processes related to negative greenhouse gas emissions 1044.3.5. Energy and raw materials 1064.3.6. Consequences in terms of a low-carbon industry 1064.4. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) 1084.4.1. Life Cycle Assessment limitations 1094.4.2. Life Cycle Assessment methodology 1094.4.3. Environmental mechanism: cause-and-effect chain (Becaert 2010) 111Chapter 5. Non-Exhaustive List of Possible Actions in Process Engineering 1155.1. Process engineering under constraints stimulating upstream research 1175.2. Methodological development and paradigms 1255.3. Challenges and innovations 1265.4. Possible science behind the application 128Chapter 6. Consequences and Attempting to Reach an Operative Conclusion 1316.1. A provisional assessment 1336.1.1. Consolidating knowledge 1366.1.2. Developing a sense of belonging, creativity and innovation 1376.2. A possible operational conclusion 1406.2.1. A little reflection on PE research 144Appendix 1. Process Engineering in the French National Strategy and in “Horizon Europe” 151Appendix 2. Reminders on Artificial Intelligence 181Appendix 3. Between Process and Environmental Engineering 205References 223Index 283

Éric Schaer is an engineer at ENSIC (French National School of Chemical Industries) and Professor at the University of Lorraine, France. His research extends to the implementation of homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions.Jean-Claude André is Research Director at CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research), researcher at the University of Lorraine, France and an ENSIC engineer. He focuses his research on light-matter interactions and associated process engineering.

• Foreword ixPreface xiiiIntroduction xxixChapter 1. From “Autonomous” Research to Societal Solutions 11.1. Positioning of process engineering 31.2. A forced transition 9Chapter 2. Highly “Autonomous” Research 212.1. Intensification 232.1.1. Reminders on microfluidics 242.1.2. Applications 282.2. Additive manufacturing 312.3. Nanotechnologies 39Chapter 3. Externally Stimulated Research 433.1. Chemistry and process engineering 453.2. Biotechnologies – bioprocess engineering 463.3. Impacts of digital technology 483.4. Product engineering 543.5. Materials and process engineering 573.6. Biomimicry and process engineering 603.6.1. Emergence of biomimetic concepts in PE 633.6.2. Applicability of biomimicry 643.7. Complexity and process engineering 643.7.1. Between complication and complexity 653.7.2. Complexity “quite simply” 663.7.3. To start the debate 67Chapter 4. Research in Response to Societal Questions 734.1. General framework 764.2. Some additional elements 864.2.1. Some additions and considerations 874.3. Energies 914.3.1. Biomass 964.3.2. Electrochemistry, photochemistry 994.3.3. Storage of electrical energy 1004.3.4. Processes related to negative greenhouse gas emissions 1044.3.5. Energy and raw materials 1064.3.6. Consequences in terms of a low-carbon industry 1064.4. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) 1084.4.1. Life Cycle Assessment limitations 1094.4.2. Life Cycle Assessment methodology 1094.4.3. Environmental mechanism: cause-and-effect chain (Becaert 2010) 111Chapter 5. Non-Exhaustive List of Possible Actions in Process Engineering 1155.1. Process engineering under constraints stimulating upstream research 1175.2. Methodological development and paradigms 1255.3. Challenges and innovations 1265.4. Possible science behind the application 128Chapter 6. Consequences and Attempting to Reach an Operative Conclusion 1316.1. A provisional assessment 1336.1.1. Consolidating knowledge 1366.1.2. Developing a sense of belonging, creativity and innovation 1376.2. A possible operational conclusion 1406.2.1. A little reflection on PE research 144Appendix 1. Process Engineering in the French National Strategy and in “Horizon Europe” 151Appendix 2. Reminders on Artificial Intelligence 181Appendix 3. Between Process and Environmental Engineering 205References 223Index 283

Éric Schaer is an engineer at ENSIC (French National School of Chemical Industries) and Professor at the University of Lorraine, France. His research extends to the implementation of homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions.Jean-Claude André is Research Director at CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research), researcher at the University of Lorraine, France and an ENSIC engineer. He focuses his research on light-matter interactions and associated process engineering.

• Foreword ixPreface xiiiIntroduction xxixChapter 1. From “Autonomous” Research to Societal Solutions 11.1. Positioning of process engineering 31.2. A forced transition 9Chapter 2. Highly “Autonomous” Research 212.1. Intensification 232.1.1. Reminders on microfluidics 242.1.2. Applications 282.2. Additive manufacturing 312.3. Nanotechnologies 39Chapter 3. Externally Stimulated Research 433.1. Chemistry and process engineering 453.2. Biotechnologies – bioprocess engineering 463.3. Impacts of digital technology 483.4. Product engineering 543.5. Materials and process engineering 573.6. Biomimicry and process engineering 603.6.1. Emergence of biomimetic concepts in PE 633.6.2. Applicability of biomimicry 643.7. Complexity and process engineering 643.7.1. Between complication and complexity 653.7.2. Complexity “quite simply” 663.7.3. To start the debate 67Chapter 4. Research in Response to Societal Questions 734.1. General framework 764.2. Some additional elements 864.2.1. Some additions and considerations 874.3. Energies 914.3.1. Biomass 964.3.2. Electrochemistry, photochemistry 994.3.3. Storage of electrical energy 1004.3.4. Processes related to negative greenhouse gas emissions 1044.3.5. Energy and raw materials 1064.3.6. Consequences in terms of a low-carbon industry 1064.4. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) 1084.4.1. Life Cycle Assessment limitations 1094.4.2. Life Cycle Assessment methodology 1094.4.3. Environmental mechanism: cause-and-effect chain (Becaert 2010) 111Chapter 5. Non-Exhaustive List of Possible Actions in Process Engineering 1155.1. Process engineering under constraints stimulating upstream research 1175.2. Methodological development and paradigms 1255.3. Challenges and innovations 1265.4. Possible science behind the application 128Chapter 6. Consequences and Attempting to Reach an Operative Conclusion 1316.1. A provisional assessment 1336.1.1. Consolidating knowledge 1366.1.2. Developing a sense of belonging, creativity and innovation 1376.2. A possible operational conclusion 1406.2.1. A little reflection on PE research 144Appendix 1. Process Engineering in the French National Strategy and in “Horizon Europe” 151Appendix 2. Reminders on Artificial Intelligence 181Appendix 3. Between Process and Environmental Engineering 205References 223Index 283