Section AI for Chemical Engineering
Mission
The EFCE Section on AI for Chemical Engineering (AI4CE) is a Section of the European Federation of Chemical Engineering (EFCE) with the aim to connect, support, demystify, and inform the EFCE community in the responsible and impactful adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in chemical and process engineering, with a central focus on the industrial application of AI.
We do this by:
- Industrial Applications of AI (central focus): Active support to the European process industries for the safe and trustworthy adoption of AI through structured channels between industry, academia, and innovation ecosystems that turn industrial needs into matchmaking, demonstrators, and joint initiatives.
- Research coordination: Connecting and amplifying AI research already underway across the EFCE Working Parties and Sections, supporting high-quality, reproducible, and impactful AI research through strategic priorities, open science, and shared best practices.
- Training and education: Co-designing AI training and teaching activities with the EFCE community, and promoting the responsible, aware, and ethical use of AI in academic and industrial settings.
- Evidence-based briefing: Producing briefing documents and advice for EFCE and external stakeholders, including policy makers, with critically evaluated information on priorities, standards, sustainability, and ethics.
Upcoming Events
First in-person meeting
Our first in-person meeting will be held at ESCAPE35 in Sheffield on Monday, 22 June 2026, from 13:00 to 14:00. The session will bring participants together to exchange ideas, strengthen collaboration, and discuss the next steps for the initiative.
Section Overview
General Information
Section Board
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Idelfonso Nogueira
Section Role: Section Chair
Location: Norway
Affiliation: Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Area of work:
Contact: LinkedIn contact, University profile, Google scholar
Mattia Vallerio
Section Role: Section Co-Chair
Location: Italy
Affiliation: Polytechnic University of Milan
Contact: LinkedIn contact, University profile, Google scholar
Enis Leblebici
Section Role: Vice-Chair for Industrial Application of AI for Academia
Location: Belgium
Affiliation: KU Leuven
Contact: LinkedIn contact, University profile, Google scholar
Pascal Lith
Section Role: Vice-Chair for Industrial Application of AI for Industry
Location: Netherlands
Affiliation: Eneco (Industry)
Contact: LinkedIn contact
Antonio Chanona
Section Role: Vice-Chair for Research
Location: United Kingdom
Affiliation: Imperial College London
Contact: LinkedIn contact, University profile, Google scholar
Florence Vermeire
Section Role: Vice-Chair for Education
Location: Belgium
Affiliation: KU Leuven
Contact: LinkedIn contact, University profile, Google scholar
Section General Members
| Name |
Affiliation |
|
Artur Schweidtmann |
TU Delft, Netherlands |
|
Francisco Navarro-Brull |
IFF, Netherlands (industry) |
| Ludovic Montastruc | ENSIACET/INP Toulouse, France |
| María José Nieves | Eli Lilly (industry) |
| Maria Papathanasious | Imperial College London, UK |
| Pedro F. Mendes |
Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal |
|
Ulderico DiCaprio |
TU Delft, Netherlands |
Purpose & Impact
AI4CE activities are planned around a simple sense check: Why is the activity needed? Who does it serve? What impact is expected to be created? How will that impact be assessed?
This ensures that the Section’s work remains aligned with the EFCE mission and delivers clear value to the chemical and process engineering community, industry, and wider stakeholders.
