Members
CLIB currently has almost 100 members from home and abroad. Click on a name to get more information.
Industry
Covestro Deutschland AG
Covestro is a world-leading supplier of high-tech polymer materials: innovative, sustainable, and diverse.
We are serving key industries (such as automotive, construction, and electro/electronics) around the globe with technologically leading processes. Our products and application solutions are used in many areas of modern life.
In line with our vision “We will be fully circular” we are on the way to a circular economy. Alternative raw materials (such as biomass, CO2, plastic waste) and alternative production technologies (e.g. via biotechnology) are the basis for various new innovative products and production processes.
With approximately 17,200 employees Covestro posted sales of 12.4 billion euros in 2019. It has some 30 major production sites worldwide that operate in a safe, efficient and ecofriendly way. The product range includes the high-performance polymer polycarbonate and precursors for polyurethanes that are used to produce foam.
Evonik Industries AG
Evonik is one of the world’s leading specialty chemicals companies.
We may not manufacture tires, mattresses, medications, or animal feeds, but Evonik is part of all of those products –and many more. While we often contribute only small amounts of material, those contributions are precisely what make the difference. That’s because Evonik products make tires fuel-efficient, mattresses more elastic, medications more effective, and animal feeds healthier. That’s what specialty chemicals are all about. And when it comes to specialty chemicals, we’re among the best in the world.
Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The company is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of €12.2 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of €1.9 billion in 2020. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable and sustainable solutions for customers. More than 33,000 employees work together for a common purpose: We want to improve life, today and tomorrow.
IFF International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
IFF, is an industry leader in food, beverage, health, biosciences and sensorial experiences and operates globally but with a significant research and manufacturing footprint in Europe. IFF’s deep histories of creativity, innovation excellence and a shared commitment to care for our communities IFF’s Vision is driven by its `Do More Good Plan’, which has for ambition to innovate for progress – for people and the planet. Across the four divisions of our business – Scent, Nourish, Health & Biosciences, Pharma Solutions – we are transforming the markets we serve by driving environmentally and socially conscious innovation, growing our robust research & development (R&D) pipeline, and developing an expanded suite of sustainable solutions to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers.
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
Henkel operates globally with a well-balanced and diversified portfolio. The company holds leading positions with its three business units – Laundry & Home Care, Beauty Care and Adhesives – in both industrial and consumer businesses thanks to strong brands, innovations and technologies. Founded in 1876, Henkel looks back on more than 140 years of success. The DAX-30 company has its headquarters in Düsseldorf, Germany. Henkel employs more than 53,000 people worldwide, over 80 percent of whom work outside of Germany. In 2020, Henkel reported sales of 19.3 billion euros and an operating profit of 2.6 billion euros (adjusted for one-time gains/charges and restructuring charges). As a recognized leader in sustainability, Henkel holds top positions in many international indices and rankings.
LANXESS Deutschland AG
LANXESS – at the heart of the chemical industry
LANXESS is a leading speciality chemicals company based in Cologne. With around14,400 employees in 33 countries, we are an established company on the global market. Our primary expertise lies in producing, developing and marketing chemical intermediates, additives, specialty chemicals and plastics, with annual sales of EUR 6.8 billion (2019).
Sustainability and responsibility are key factors behind our successful business operations. They help us become an even more efficient and competitive company while also supporting social goals such as protecting the environment. Our products also play a role in this, providing sustainable solutions in key areas such as electric mobility.
Our aim is for the company to be carbon neutral by 2040. Setting this ambitious target builds on our previous, successful commitment to environmental protection.
LANXESS is listed in the leading sustainability indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World and Europe) and FTSE4Good.
Uniper Kraftwerke GmbH
Uniper SE is an international leading energy utility with activities in more than 40 countries and about 12000 employees. Uniper Kraftwerke GmbH (“UKW”) as well Uniper Technologies GmbH (“UTG”) are subsidiaries of Uniper SE, which is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany. Core business of Uniper SE is reliable and secure provision of energy and corresponding support activities. Focus is the energy production in Europe and Russia and global energy trading. The innovation team within Uniper SE is looking for future business models in different areas. One of these areas is called “Carbon Recycling” as Uniper has identified its CO2 emission not as a waste steam, but as a good accessible point source for the development of future value generation from CO2.
Large and Mid-sized Enterprises
Corbion NV
Corbion is the global market leader in lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, and a leading company in emulsifiers, functional enzyme blends, minerals, vitamins and algae ingredients.
We develop sustainable ingredient solutions to improve the quality of life for people today and for future generations. For over 100 years, we have been uncompromising in our commitment to safety, quality and performance. Drawing on our deep application and product knowledge, we work side-by-side with customers to make our cutting edge technologies work for them.
At Corbion, we live our brand promise “Keep creating”, through our science, clear understanding of the markets we serve, and of course through our creative people.
Corbion’s strategy and every aspect of our operations are built around advancing sustainability and applying high ethical standards, whether this relates to the management of our global supply chain, responsible procurement of our raw materials, or the safety and wellbeing of our people.
Neste Germany GmbH
Neste (NESTE, Nasdaq Helsinki) creates solutions for combating climate change and accelerating a shift to a circular economy. We refine waste, residues and innovative raw materials into renewable fuels and sustainable feedstock for plastics and other materials. We are the world’s leading producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, developing chemical recycling to combat the plastic waste challenge. We aim at helping customers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with our renewable and circular solutions by at least 20 million tons annually by 2030, and are committed to reaching carbon-neutral production by 2035. We have consistently been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and the Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies. In 2019, Neste’s revenue stood at EUR 15.8 billion, 82% of the our comparable operating profit coming from renewables.
Pfeifer & Langen GmbH & Co. KG
Pfeifer & Langen operates five sugar factories in Germany. Sugar beets grown by farmers are processed to white sugar and the by-products sugar beet pulp and molasses. These products and intermediate products such as thick juice can be used as carbohydrate sources for biotechnological processes.
Pfeifer & Langen supplies sugar and sugar specialities for the food industry and the consumers. The production process of Pfeifer & Langen starts when the sugar beet seed is sold to the farmers and ends when the sugar is placed on the shelves of groceries. We are looking for opportunities to use our expertise in the process chain beginning with agriculture and ending in the food retail trade for new processes and products connected with biotechnology. Even though we offer deep knowledge in the development of enzymatic processes and enzyme production.
Pfeifer & Langen is with its affiliated company Savanna Ingredients GmbH active on the field of production and sales natural functional carbohydrates.
Stahl Holdings B.V.
Stahl is driving the responsible chemistry in leather solutions and high-performance coatings. Our products enable sustainable living by adding functionality, durability and comfort to many different materials used in everyday life. Through our continuous focus on innovation and improving the environmental footprint, our unique service model and premium solutions add value to various industries.
At Stahl, we see our responsibility to participate in sustainable development as a duty to society and the environment, but also as an opportunity to do well by doing good. By embracing sustainable development, we aim to deliver value for all stakeholders, including our employees, customers, suppliers, partners, and society at large.
Zentis GmbH & Co. KG
For over 125 years, Zentis has been an indispensable source of inspiration for natural and enjoyable nutrition. Unparalleled expertise in refining natural raw materials such as fruits, vegetables and grains, outstanding innovative strength and a consistent quality policy have made Zentis one of Europe’s leading fruit processors and an indispensable partner for the processing industry and retailers. Zentis preparations refine dairy products, milk alternatives and baked goods. Zentis also produces fruity spreads and marzipan specialties.
Founded in 1893 in Aachen, the family-owned company is internationally positioned and has approximately 2,000 employees worldwide (1,100 in Aachen). In addition to 2 production sites in Germany, Zentis has plants in Poland, Hungary and the United States.
Small Enterprises
Aachen Proteineers GmbH
Aachen Proteineers is a Start-Up focussing on coating solutions. We have developed a platform technology to adhere various biomolecules to a wide range of surfaces using special peptides. This technology intensifies processes, cuts cost, and achieves very high coating densities in water at room temperature. We tailor these peptides regarding application conditions, surface specificity, and binding strength through protein engineering strategies, such as directed evolution.
We are currently evaluating products for research, diagnostics and process technology markets, and are open to discussing new applications and to exploring them in partnerships.
ALTAR S.A.S.
The competitiveness of Industrial Biotechnology processes is often hindered by the low performance of the microorganisms. To unlock the potential of this promising field, we must shift the paradigm and no longer adapt processes to the metabolic limitation of Industrial Microbial Hosts, but instead adapt microorganisms to industrial requirements.
Altar develops enabling technologies for the adaptation of microbial strains to industrial requirements. Our automated fluidic platform harnesses natural selection for the adaptive evolution of microorganisms. It has successfully proven to leverage metabolic engineering and non-GMO development for a wide range of organisms (bacteria, yeasts, microalgae) in several industrial fields (food, feed, chemicals, biofuels, materials, health, cosmetics…).
Aminoverse B.V.
Aminoverse puts the right enzyme in your hands!
With 40+ years of cumulated experience in enzyme R&D, Aminoverse solves enzyme challenges with enzyme discovery and evolution for both start-ups and large corporates active in pharma, F&F, fine chemicals, agtech, nutrition, feed, diagnostics, laundry, biofuels and climatetech.
As fee-for-service CRO, projects are tailored to meet any budget and timeline.
Hightlights:
– Combined offering of 200 qm ML-1 wet lab and state-of-the-art in silico/bioinformatics services
– Enzymes for biocatalysis up to kg scale: unspecific peroxygenases and ketoglutarate-dep. oxygenases
– NextGen enzyme engineering service powered by proprietary, lab-proven machine learning algorithms helping clients to de-risk and accelerate enzyme development campaigns
Amphi-Star B.V.
Amphi-Star has developed a proprietary technology platform for the cost-efficient and ecological production of biosurfactants.
We are a founders-led spin-off company that is the result of 15 years joint development between Ghent University (Inbio.be) and the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant. We derisk the early development stage for biosurfactant production, guide and support technology transfer to industrial manufacturers and collaborate intensely for further development and improvement of the licensed technology.
Axxence Aromatic GmbH
Axxence Aromatic was founded in 1986 and is a privately held company with head office in Emmerich, Germany. Over the years our focus has been of the dedication to be one of the most reliable and innovative sources within our prime field of expertise: NATURAL AROMA INGREDIENTS for the flavour & fragrance industry worldwide.
By strategic investments in R & D of both novel natural ingredients and new manufacturing processes, we constantly strive to expand the use of our products in existing and new applications as well as markets. Axxence has around 100 employees. Sales offices and warehousing are present in Germany, France, USA and Japan. Manufacturing and R & D facilities are located in the Slovak Republic.
b.fab GmbH
b.fab is specialized in the efficient conversion of CO2 and renewable energy into biotechnological value chains. CO2 and water are abundantly available and therefore, it is our starting point to build a sustainable circular bioeconomy. We use formate as our central mediator to bind and store CO2 and H2 (made from water) in liquid form. Our bioprocesses start with the feedstock formate and we use Synthetic Biology to design specific pathways and to convert formate into value-added chemicals. Our platform is build on anaerobic and aerobic microbial production hosts to provide flexibility in the process design and adaptation to specific product requirements.
b.fab offers formatothropic strains, bioprocesses and technology licences.
b.value AG
As one of the first German early-stage venture capital providers for industrial biotechnology, life sciences, chemistry, and advanced materials, the b.value AG seeks to fully deploy the economic potential of bio-based technologies in common interest of founders and investors. The b.value AG invests in start-ups mainly in the seed stage in the D-A-CH region. Thereby, b.value acquires majority and minority interests in almost all cases together with other co- investors.
The b.value team is characterised by an exceptional scientific and technological specialization. The management team has >40 years of experience in the establishment, management, and development of technology companies and biotechnology innovations. Besides this, the portfolio companies benefit from the unique “Company Building” approach and the broad b.value network.
Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant BV
Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is an open innovation pilot and demonstration facility for process development, scale-up and custom manufacturing of biobased products and processes from lab to multi ton scale. We combine technologies (biomass pretreatment, biocatalysis, green chemistry, (gas)fermentation, biorefining and downstream purification) for advanced manufacturing of biobased products utilising a wide and flexible spectrum of modular unit operations. As such, our team of highly trained and experienced engineers and bioprocess technicians facilitates the translation of your biobased laboratory processes into viable industrial processes.
From 2013 to 2019, Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant successfully conducted 322 bilateral (private) projects with 124 different small, medium and large sized companies. On top of these private/bilateral projects, Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant has been involved in more than 50 public project consortia.
biotechrabbit GmbH
biotechrabbit GmbH was founded in 2011 in Henningsdorf; already 4 years later, in 2015, a second research and production site was opened in Berlin / Adlershof. biotechrabbit is a team of top class scientists, experienced managers and business developers who are determined to offer highest quality products and services for diagnostic companies and life science research. We value the relationships with our partners and customers and are driven to exceed current limitations with flexibility, innovation and highly customized solutions to match specific requirements.
biotechrabbit’s offering includes enzymes for molecular diagnostics, antibody generation and production, high-capacity protein fermentation, lyophilization for diagnostic test kits and pharma, highly parallel, cell-free protein synthesis, mRNA for therapeutics, site-directed amino acid incorporation for labeling or cancer biotherapeutics and a full molecular biology products catalog.
Our way of doing business combines the passion and pure curiosity of excellent researchers with the agile spirit of true entrepreneurs.
bitop AG
bitop AG is a biotechnology company focused on products based on extremolytes, a group of natural protective molecules responsible for the stress resistance of extremophilic microorganisms. bitop develops and employs fermentative and biocatalytic bioprocesses for extremolyte production.
The company offers innovative medical devices based on the extremolyte Ectoin® in the areas of allergy, dermatology, respiratory diseases and dry epithelia with scientifically confirmed efficacy and tolerability. Furthermore, bitop offers extremolyte products like Ectoin®, Glycoin®, and 28Extremoin® as cosmetic active ingredients as well as hydroxyectoin as biostabilizer for diagnostics and life sciences.
Biomatter Designs, UAB
Biomatter is a synthetic biology company that creates new proteins for health and sustainable manufacturing. The company has developed the Intelligent Architecture™ platform that addresses limitations of current engineering approaches to unlock completely new horizons for digital protein design and development. Biomatter partners with leading companies from diverse industries to create new products and technologies based on unique enzymes that capture existing markets and enable blue-ocean opportunities.
Blucon Biotech GmbH
BluCon technology platform is a so-called second generation biomass conversion technology. BluCon is a platform for complete, one-step conversion of non-food feedstocks to carbohydrates used in the production of fuels and chemicals. The BluCon platform is based on its patented, proprietary extremophilic anaerobic bacteria and offers significantly improved process economics compared to other second generation conversion processes.
BluCon converts various non-food biomass ranging from grasses and straw to agricultural and wood residues and can therefore be applied around the globe.
BRAIN Biotech AG
BRAIN Biotech is a technology and solutions provider supporting the biologization of industries. We identify and develop enzymes, optimize microbial organisms, and discover bioactive compounds for industrial applications.
Our technology services include microbial strain development, enzyme technology, protein engineering and bioprocess development. With our proprietary CRISPR-Cas based genome-editing technology, the company meets customer project goals faster and cheaper. Our innovative solutions are already successfully applied in the food, pharma, and chemical industries, many of them serving to make products and processes more sustainable.
BRAIN Biotech is the parent company of the BRAIN Group which owns fermentation or production facilities in Continental Europe, UK and the US.
Carbon Minds GmbH
Carbon Minds is a data analytics company focused on environmental sustainability in the chemical industry. From its roots at RWTH Aachen University, the company has grown to provide some of the world’s largest corporations with solutions for lowering their environmental impacts associated with production and use of chemicals.
Environmental life-cycle data is the root of the company. With its established model of the global chemical industry, Carbon Minds goes a layer deeper than national level data on environmental impacts. Its data represents individual chemical production facilities, so Carbon Minds can provide not only national average data, but also supplier-specific environmental impacts for more than 2000 chemical producers. The resulting database for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is as geographically specific as it is comprehensive, with data for 1000 chemicals and 200 regions. One of the primary roles of the company is to provide partners and customers with life-cycle data so they can make their current environmental impact assessments more representative.
In addition to providing data, Carbon Minds also performs analysis and provides consultancy on transition scenarios. In this role, the company combines data with proprietary novel optimization approaches to identify cost-efficient transition pathways. Because Carbon Minds’ plant-specific data represents the building blocks of the chemical industry and the company’s model is consistent across plants, nations and regions, Carbon Minds can show its partners and customers sustainability options that range in scope from individual integrated production sites to strategic choices for the entire industry. The company’s data avoids the inexactness associated with compiling national-level data from a variety of sources. Instead, Carbon Minds provides consistent and specific evidence to support understanding of how to reduce the future environmental impacts of the chemical industry.
With Carbon Minds’ data in hand, partners and customers in industry and governments can direct a confident transition to sustainability.
ChiralVision B.V.
ChiralVision produces immobilized enzymes and develops chemo-enzymatic processes for various markets including the environmental, cosmetic, fine chemical and pharmaceutical industry. Immobilization techniques are developed and used to produce immobilized enzymes in order to facilitate their separation, recycling and allow for continuous processes. Immobilization of enzymes makes processes more economically viable. Additionally the use of more extreme process conditions are possible for immobilized enzymes thereby increasing the technical feasibility of enzymatic processes.
ChiralVision also has a portfolio of unique enzymatically produced chiral compounds like unnatural amino acids.
c-LEcta GmbH
c-LEcta is a leading industrial biotechnology company, using best-in-class biotechnologies to efficiently provide customized enzymes and microbial strains to industrial applications. Scientific excellence is combined with in-depth commercial and regulatory know-how to bring innovative and competitive bioprocessed products into scale. Besides our in- house project and product pipeline we have a strong focus on strategic cooperation with industrial partners.
Moreover, c-LEcta is an established enzyme supplier, manufacturing unique, quality- controlled enzyme products on large technical scale.
CO2BioClean GmbH
CO2 BioClean prevents the release of industrial CO2 emissions by capturing them before their release into the atmosphere. The CO2 is transformed into 100% biodegradable biopolymer (PHA) via an efficient fermentation process. Making use of this polymer, a versatile set of items ranging from textile fibres, packaging items and interior design can be produced. The fermentation process used to produce the biodegradable polymers allows to tune the properties of the PHA such as aesthetics and mechanical properties, ranging from rigid to flexible, soft-touch and adhesive. This way, we can address requirements of complex end use applications.
Colipi GmbH
We develop a Carbon Capturing & Transformation biotechnology platform that turns CO2 & industrial side streams circularly to valuable biomaterials such as oils (triglycerides & free fatty acids) & proteins. The platform consists of a CO2-O2-H2 bacterial gas fermentation & a classic yeast fermentation. Our enabler is a leading & patented gas fermenter & process design as well as 10 years of process know-how working with oleaginous yeasts. The greatest value proposition of our products is a zero CO2 footprint enabling corporations to reach their ambitious decarbonization targets.
Concord Blue Engineering GmbH
Concord Blue is a waste management company that transforms nearly any form of local waste into a variety of clean, renewable fuels. Concord Blue has developed a revolutionary closed-loop system that efficiently and cost-effectively produces the highest quality sustainable energy with virtually no pollutants. Unlike other available waste-to-energy processes, Concord Blue’s unique technology benefits the environment, fulfilling all international, EPA and European regulations for renewable energy and air emissions.
Corvay Consult GmbH
Since 2002 Corvay provides consulting and project management services. We are proud to look at a successful track record, e. g. BioRegioN, Vakzine Projekt Management, Direvo Industrial Biotechnology. Corvay actively supports Sino-German collaboration in biotechnology.
Now Corvay has built a specialty chemicals business, marketing and selling specialties from Chinese and Indian suppliers. Long chain aliphatic diacids are sold under the brandname Himount Europe, long chain diols and diamines complete this portfolio, which also covers specialty enzymes and vitamin D.
Our success factors: high performance over many years, broad operational expertise in biotechnology, enzymes, vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and internationality, international management experience plus an efficient business network.
Deep Branch Biotechnology Ltd.
Deep Branch Biotechnology are a UK-based start-up that produce single cell protein for animal feed. The company utilises carbon dioxide as a feedstock for their proprietary gas fermentation process, producing high-quality protein for aquafeed and monogastric animals.
Econutri GmbH
Econutri is a biotechnology startup developing an innovative high-tech bioprocess that uses carbon dioxide as a source for producing high-quality proteins in various forms. We are starting with proteins for animal feed.
Our special microorganisms grow in a highly efficient gas fermentation process and finally form a biomass consisting of up to 80% high quality proteins. Applications are animal feed, human food or technical proteins.
Enzymaster Deutschland GmbH
Enzymaster provides a one-stop solution for the development and commercialization of innovative and sustainable enzyme catalysis technologies. With our proprietary BioEngine® platform and long-term experience, we offer R & D services combined with establishment of complete technology transfer packages, and manufacturing collaborations to fine chemical, pharmaceutical, and other industries.
Our portfolio includes enzyme panel screening, smart enzyme engineering, process development, enzyme preparation by fermentation, and biocatalytic manufacturing. In addition to these services, we also offer general enzyme kits that represent various enzyme classes as well as customized enzyme kits that fit to the individual biotransformation needs of our customers.
Enzymaster Deutschland GmbH, a subsidiary of Enzymaster (Ningbo) Bio-Engineering Co. Ltd., represents your partner in the international market for enzyme applications and products manufactured by biocatalytic processes.
Green Magic Happens Here!
Enzymicals AG
We are an experienced partner for industrial biocatalysis from mg to ton-scale with more than a decade of experience. Enzymicals experts offer their recognized expertise in the use of enzymatic processes for complex chemical synthesis, from initial catalyst-lead finding to process optimization and pre-scale up. Combining many years of experience in biotechnology with state-of-the art facilities, our company has success stories with many partners from diverse industries speeding up their developments. Our core working principles are high quality R&D, professionalism and customer satisfaction. By this we add value with tailor made enzymes, customized chemicals and individual process solutions and contribute to a more sustainable industry with greener and safer processes.
evoxx technologies GmbH
evoxx technologies GmbH, a German industrial biotechnology company, is focussed on the development and production of industrial enzymes and biocatalytic processes. As European subsidiary of the global enzyme manufacturer Advanced Enzyme Technologies Ltd. a comprehensive product portfolio of enzymatic solutions for human nutrition, animal nutrition, bio- processing, and pharma industries is offered.
Product development is based on the proprietary technology platform covering the whole value chain from early enzyme and process development via scale-up and technology transfer to industrial scale production. evoxx´s industrial partners and customers not only benefit from the long-term experience of our interdisciplinary team but also from our unique metagenomics libraries, enzyme engineering and development skills, tech transfer experience and large scale enzyme production capabilities. Depending on the requirements, we can work in bacterial or fungal expression systems. Our comprehensive technology platform is also used to develop and produce tailored carbohydrates, mainly for food industry. evoxx is located on the Creative Campus in Monheim am Rhein, Germany.
Heinrich Frings GmbH & Co. KG
The company Heinrich Frings GmbH & Co. KG is a worldwide supplier of machines, equipment and components for process technology in the industry sectors food, biotechnology, and the chemical industry as well as environmental technology with special focus on fermenters and bioreactors.
FRINGS not only supplies customized systems for each application, but also offers assistance and consulting services. FRINGS has extensive know how and experience concerning process optimization and product development. For downstream processing FRINGS delivers membrane filtration systems (crossflow filtration) for many different industrial sectors.
Ginkgo Bioworks Netherlands B.V.
Ginkgo Bioworks is a biotech company from the United States founded in 2009 by scientists from MIT.
Ginkgo is building a platform to enable customers to program cells as easily as we can program computers. The company’s platform is enabling biotechnology applications
across diverse markets, from food and agriculture to industrial chemicals to pharmaceuticals.
On July 1 2021, Ginkgo Bioworks acquired Dutch DNA Biotech, adding a fungal engineering platform to its portfolio. Dutch DNA Biotech continues its activities under the name Ginkgo Bioworks Netherlands and keeps its focus on development of fungal strains and fermentation processes for the production of proteins.
Global Entrepreneurship Centre powered by Flow gGmbH
Based at Areal Böhler in Meerbusch, the Global Entrepreneurship Centre (GEC) is the first structure of its kind to address the scaling challenges of promising SusTechs – deep-tech start-ups with a clear sustainability and climate protection focus – from all over the world. Launched in 2021, the GEC will initially support up to 20 start-ups per year in the sectors of building & living, textiles, mobility and agriculture & nutrition with access to venture capital, business development and advisory services and lab capacity.
The GEC is funded by the Rhenish region’s `SofortprogrammPlus’ initiative and the Rhine County of Neuss. In the long term it will be funded by its own resources. Up to 3,000 new jobs will be created by 2030 through the relocation of innovative companies taking part in the GEC programmes to the region.
INOFEA AG
INOFEA was created to meet a critical need of the industry: to make enzymes more stable, re-usable and suitable for continuous processes. We immobilize enzymes and protect them with a tailor-made shield, making them easy to use in biocatalysis, bioanalysis (diagnostics), and as active ingredients. INOFEA’s technology allows enzymes to be recycled by about 20 times and makes them significantly more stable (10-fold improvement). Our technology allows a reduction of raw materials needed for synthesis, a reduction of energy consumption during the production process and a reduction of waste and solvents in biocatalytic processes. We supply to customers who are among the top players in their industry, namely Pharma, Food, Crop Protection, Specialty & Fine Chemicals and Consumer Care.
Jäckering Mühlen- und Nährmittelwerke GmbH
The Jäckering group of companies has developed over 100 years (foundation 1910) into a group of various activities reaching from wheat starch production to machinery business and by-product recycling in the PVC industry with its main production site in the harbour of Hamm in Germany.
Just recently an 85 Mio. € investment was executed by Jäckering in its mill and wheat-based biorefinery with an increase of its raw material input from 300,000 tons to 600,000 tons of wheat. The signs point to growth and expansion, with an important pillar in the biotechnological production of e.g. biobased plastics, organic acids as well as microbial astaxanthin and protein using the existing side-streams as substrates.
Research is already carried out together with leading universities and institutes. The research & development centre onsite is readily available and offers facilities for bioprocess development and up-scaling of up-stream-, down-stream- and fermentation processes from shaking flask over 10L and 300L up to 1500L.
Approval for usage of GMO (S1) for research is possible.
KFCircular GmbH
KFCircular is a consultancy company located in Berlin. KFCircular provides profound knowledge in circular economy especially renewable carbon and its utilization and integration into further processes. We have access to a patent portfolio covering the the COSLIF-type pre-treatment process called LX-Process in different regions also in Europe. Our team has scaled the LX-Process to a processing capacity of 500 t p.a..
Furthermore KFCircular has broad knowledge of digitization projects with workflow, LIMS and document management systems.
Kuhner Shaker GmbH
The Kuhner Shaker GmbH distributes shaking machines and application technologies for shaken bioreactor systems. Moreover, we produce and develop innovative feeding technologies for microtiter plates, shake flasks and spin tube bioreactors. The product portfolio covers bench top shakers, industrial shaking machines for GMP environments as well as the feeding technologies FeedPlate, FeedBead and FeedTube.
Kuhner Shaker is driven by a personal and trustful contact to our customers. Based on a long-term experience and our expert knowledge regarding shaken bioreactors we are capable to offer individual and custom-made solutions. As partner of the science, we actively contribute to academic research projects.
LanzaTech Inc.
Founded in 2005, LanzaTech has developed a fully integrated gas to liquid technology platform that produces fuels and chemicals from gas resources. The potential feedstock ranges from industrial waste gases (steel mills, refineries and phosphorous plants) to biomass syngas (MSW, organic industrial waste, and agricultural waste); as well as biogas.
LanzaTech employs a strong technical team based in the USA, China and Europe and has a rapidly growing patent portfolio. With agreements now in place across a variety of sectors internationally, including steel, aviation, refining and chemicals, LanzaTech’s technology is being scaled to commercial production.
Leiber GmbH
Leiber refines the food side stream “Brewers` Spent Yeast” into innovative and nutritional products for the fields Life Science, Food and Animal Nutrition. We are a reliable partner for the brewing industry and bridging the gap between food industry and technology-driven markets like the biotechnology industry.
The Life Science division is dedicated to functional nutritional solutions for applications in Biotechnology, Nutraceuticals, Agriscicence. Our Brewers’ Yeast extracts are perfect for the fermentation industry. They improve the fermentation rate of a wide range of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, algae and numerous other production organisms, because they are an important source of assimilable nitrogen and they also contain B vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
LignoPure GmbH
LignoPure is a pioneer in helping materials science and life science companies revolutionize their portfolio with tailor-made, sustainable product solutions. For this purpose, LignoPure uses the raw material lignin, which is as good as unknown, but actually the second most abundant biopolymer in the world!
We offer lignin-based solutions for your product ideas. LignoPure is a spinoff of the Hamburg University of Technology – A multidisciplinary team with expertise in process engineering, product development & business administration.
From its versatile biorefinery network, LignoPure can source suitable lignins and process them specifically for the customer’s application. In addition, LignoPure offers tailor-made development services to the processing customer.
Lignovations GmbH
Lignovations has developed a patented technology to manufacture functional ingredients for cosmetics, coatings, packaging and more from upcycled biomass. By transforming lignin, a component of biomass that protects the plant into so called ‚Colloidal Lignin Particles’, Lignovations’ high-performance bio-material can replace non-renewable ingredients, such as UV filters, antioxidants, and emulsifiers.
LXP Group GmbH
LXP is a tech company, active in the field of industrial biotechnology. The objective of the company is the development, marketing and licensing of technical solutions for the economic and ecological processing of plant residues on the basis of closed carbon and mineral cycles. Our mission is to maximize the ecological and economic efficiency of biotechnological processes.
The core technology is based on a patent protected pre-treatment process called LX- Process. This process provides alternative /2G-carbohydrates / -sugars and is easy to integrate into biotechnological processes. It allows the conversion of virtually all carbohydrates of lignocellulosic non-food materials to chemicals or biofuels. Additionally, sulphur free lignin is obtained.
Mitsui & Co. Deutschland GmbH
We currently comprise 128 sites in 63 countries/regions and a network of more than 500 affiliates, employing approximately 45,000 talented people worldwide. In every arena, Mitsui & Co. provides high added value services and solutions that truly reflect our customers’ needs. Our job is to imagine new businesses and bring them to life. Creating new value for this era and innovating for the next.
mk2 Biotechnologies GmbH
mk2 Biotechnologies develops, produces and investigates peptides at highest purity and quality standards using a revolutionary scalable synthesis technology. We are able to synthesize any kind of authentic peptide, regardless of its physical or chemical properties.
Pectcof BV
Pectcof converts coffee pulp into valuable food ingredients.
Our technology unlocks the full potential of coffee pulp, providing an enormous positive environmental and societal impact. The coffee pulp, the side stream of the second most traded commodity in the world, is currently dumped or landfilled. Pectcof’s first product on the market, Dutch Gum, has been successfully tested as an emulsifier, stabilizer, texturizer amongst others in candies, sauces and soft drinks, offering superior functionality at best cost-in-use and allowing more flexibility in formulation development. Our technology is a true example of biomass upcycling to novel and functional food ingredients, driven by consumer’s demand for clean-label ingredients and their consciousness about social-environmental impact.
Phytowelt GreenTechnologies GmbH
Phytowelt GreenTechnologies GmbH is an experienced, innovative SME offering contract research and production in plant and industrial biotechnology worldwide. Our know-how in plant tissue culture, genetic and bio engineering assists our clients for the optimization of plants as well as the utilisation of secondary metabolites and enzymes for industrial use. Thus we enable the production of valuable molecules within plants via key technologies such as protoplast fusion or genome editing, or outside of plants in microbes, via bio-fermentation or bio-catalysis. Our approach to link plant and industrial biotechnology is maximizing synergies and so boosting sustainable development for example in aroma, pharmaceutical or agricultural industry.
Savanna Ingredients GmbH
We are a spin-off from Pfeifer & Langen GmbH & Co.KG. As a 100% subsidiary, we are also part of the Pfeifer & Langen IHKG group of companies. Within this group, we form the Food’Or Group together with Endori and Naturkost Übelhör.As SAVANNA, we develop, produce and market functional carbohydrates. Functional carbohydrates are, among other things, sugars with special properties. Our product portfolio currently includes the single sugar allulose (crystalline & syrup) and the double sugar cellobiose (powder).We are based in Elsdorf, the traditional location of our Pfeifer & Langen parent company.Our corporate vision and mission motivate us in our daily activities.
SBI Europe by Aquila Biolabs GmbH
In 2011, Scientific Industries – creator of the ubiquitous Vortex-Genie® – acquired Fluorometrix and changed the company name to Scientific Bioprocessing Inc. (SBI).
In 2021, SBI acquired aquila biolabs, a German startup that develops sensors and software for data analytics in bioprocessing. The acquisition ushers in a new era for biomanufacturing with the introduction of Digitally Simplified Bioprocessing: the powerful combination of leading-edge sensors, tools, and intuitive software that can fully leverage the power of machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Today, SBI is a collective of scientists, engineers and business people committed to making intelligent, dynamic sensors and instruments that monitor biomass, pH, and dissolved oxygen easily accessible and available to the thousands of cell scientists and bioprocessing engineers who are on the cutting edge of scientific and medical breakthroughs. Our job is to power your scientific audacity. For every experiment, every day.
SenseUp GmbH
SenseUp develops and optimizes microbial strains for industrial amino acid production. Using its revolutionary metabolite-sensor based screening technology, SenseUp offers strains with superior productivity, massive IP-generation and short development times. The SenseUp-Technology is currently adapted to non-GM compatible natural evolution, enabling unique optimization of probiotic microorganisms in near future.
As a spin-off from Forschungszentrum Jülich, SenseUp combines decades of experience
in microbial strain-development with novel disruptive technologies.
Senzyme GmbH
Senzyme GmbH is innovatively operating in biotechnology and develops and produces technical enzymes and other additives for applications in bioenergy, biorefinement, as well as in the food and feed industries.
The company has long and substantial experience in the cultivation of fungi using solid-state fermentation as the preferred method. Senzyme GmbH maintains a quality management system and guarantees the effectiveness and quality of all its processes and products. The company always welcomes cooperations with scientific institutions and other companies.
SeSaM-Biotech GmbH
As an ‘all-in-one’ protein engineering service provider, SeSaM-Biotech improves industrial enzymes for various industry sectors like the chemical, dish&fabric, feed and food sector.
Our expertise covers a range of enzymes including amylases, lipases, esterases, cellulases, glucose oxidases, laccases, monooxygenases, phytases, proteases, pectinases, polymerases and isomerases which we already have improved towards e.g. higher activity, thermal resistance or many other characteristics. With our cutting-edge technologies for mutagenesis (e.g. SeSaM-Technology, OmniChange), computational modelling of enzymes, and individually adapted screening assays we follow our vision:
To provide our clients with ‘Quality Enzyme Solutions’ to make their products eco- friendler, more cost effective and more valuable.
Sophie’s BioNutrients
Sophie’s BioNutrients is a food tech startup company using patent pending fermentation technology to grow alternative protein from microalgae.
We have a proprietary strain of microalgae which can grow in a fermentation tank, be fed on various food waste, and could be harvested in just 3 days. Our microalgae has 60% of protein which has high quality essential amino acids profile, exceeding WHO requirements for protein products.
This can be a sustainable food source due to,
- Not much land mass is needed, and you can do it indoor (No deforestation),
- 90%+ of the water can be recycled. Very little water is used.
- Production cycle is fast, only 3-10 days, versus 45-65 days for soy, 1.5 year for beef.
- The whole system can be setup near metropolitan area to cut down the needs for agriculture and transportation, addressing the “food security” and “supply chain disruption” issues facing the world today.
- Our microalgae are fed with industrial food waste like spent grains, okara, and molasses. This is for circular economy and reduced cost.
- More importantly, NO fertilizer, herbicide, antibiotic, or even growth hormone for the whole process. Truly healthy to the environment and human body.
SynergyCom SOOO
SynergyCom SOOO is focused on sustainable and cost-effective hydrolysis lignin valorization. SynergyCom SOOO produces lignin-based chemicals for various industries, including oil and gas, environmental, construction, agricultural, mining, and several others. Businesses across many industries are beginning to see benefits in utilizing intrinsic advantages of SynergyCom’s hydrolysis lignin in its purified form as well as in its chemically modified forms enriched with high concentration of functional groups. SynergyCom SOOO pays a lot of attention to research and innovation aimed at creating environmentally friendly technologies and new lignin-based products.
The Oater
The Oater is a compact IoT oat milk machine for retailers. It is embedded into a holistic eco-system consisting of a smart platform & frequent ingredient deliveries. The business model is “oat milk as a service”. Businesses only pay a flat litre price and benefit from:
– better oat milk (fresher, tastier, customizable) as this brings customers to their shop
– reduced purchasing costs
– shifting to a sustainable business model and gaining market share in one of the fastest growing food markets
Ucaneo Biotech GmbH
At Ucaneo we develop the world’s first cell-free Direct Air Capture technology leveraging a biocatalytic membrane to remove CO2 from the air. Climate change is a global problem and needs to be tackled at scale. Therefore, we set the goal to capture 0.5 GT of CO2 from the air by 2035 – roughly the same weight as all humans on earth combined!
Ulrich Windmöller GmbH & Co. KG
Vapora Bioenergie GmbH
These residual materials are turned into “recyclables” that are processed into valuable,
low-emission, green products of certified industrial quality (upcycling). A good selling price is certain with these “recyclables”.
Investors and Founders
Capricorn Venture Partners n.v.
Capricorn Partners is an independent manager of venture & growth capital and quoted equity funds, with a focus on innovative companies who use technology as a competitive advantage. We invest mainly into the relevant range of innovative digital, clean and health technologies that have a positive impact on the world. Inspired by the Chinese economy in innovative sectors, we manage a growth capital fund with a two-way Europe-China focus.
ECBF - The European Circular Bioeconomy Fund
ECBF is the first venture fund exclusively dedicated to the bioeconomy. We invest in visionary European entrepreneurs who are driving the shift from a fossil-based to a bio-based economy.
ECBF aims to catalyze the transition towards a sustainable future by investing in biobased growth-stage companies with high potential for innovation, favorable returns, and sustainable impact. As a growth-stage venture capital fund, ECBF syndicates with private and public investors to bring circular technologies and bio-products to market, offering flexible financing tools from equity to mezzanine.
With a total of EUR 300mio under management, ECBF is focus to deploy capital on attractive companies based in the EU-27 or 16-HORIZON 2020 associated countries active in AgTech, FoodTech, Industrial Biotech, Biobased Packaging or Construction Materials.
Established in Luxembourg, ECBF is managed by Hauck & Aufhäuser Funds Services S.A.
(AIFM) and advised by the experienced investment team of ECBF Management GmbH.
NRW.BANK
NRW.BANK is the promotional bank of North Rhine-Westphalia. It essentially orients its equity products on the business life cycle. The program “NRW.SeedCap” doubles initial investments of business angels in innovative start-ups under the same conditions. The “NRW.BANK.Seed Fonds Initiative” and the “NRW.BANK.Venture Fonds” invigorate early-phase funding in NRW. Within the “win NRW.BANK Business Angels Initiative” private investors (business angels) support young entrepreneurs with capital and know-how. The “NRW.BANK.Venture Center” is a specialist advisory unit for business founders from universities and research institutions as well as innovative start-ups.
Sofinnova Partners SAS
Sofinnova Partners is a leading European venture capital firm in life sciences, specializing in healthcare and sustainability. Based in Paris, London and Milan, the firm brings together a team of professionals from all over the world with strong scientific, medical and business expertise. Sofinnova Partners is a hands-on company builder across the entire value chain of life sciences investments, from seed to later-stage. The firm actively partners with ambitious entrepreneurs as a lead or cornerstone investor to develop transformative innovations that have the potential to positively impact our collective future.
Founded in 1972, Sofinnova Partners is a deeply established venture capital firm in Europe, with 50 years of experience backing over 500 companies and creating market leaders around the globe. Today, Sofinnova Partners has over €2.5 billion under management.
Infrastructure (Business Support & Networks)
BCNP Consultants GmbH
BCNP Consultants GmbH is specialized in the industries biotech, chemistry, nanotech and pharma (BCNP). The three divisions of BCNP Consultants are:
BCNP strategy
On basis of our business analyses (market and competitor analysis, technology comparisons) you are able to design and sharpen your business model, to write the business case and to identify new M&A targets.
BCNP connect
On the basis of our vivid business networks in the life sciences industry we bring you together with relevant people in order to support you in filling your customer pipeline.
European Chemistry Partnering
Since 2017 innovators – from chemistry to bio-economy, from engineering to digitization – have been meeting twice a year: In February at the European Chemistry Partnering and in September at the ECP Summer Summit.
BioBall e.V.
The aim of the BioBall Innovation Space is to generate new utilization paths for the Frankfurt/RhineMain metropolitan region based on biogenic residual and waste materials and thus to become a model region for a sustainable, bio-based economy.
BioBall identifies and brings together stakeholders – from waste management companies and technology developers all the way to consumers – and initiates and funds new research, development and innovation projects. The resulting synergies in this BioBall Innovation Alliance promote the rapid exploitation of new tailor-made biobased value chains for metropolitan regions.
All BioBall projects have a high scientific demand and are application-oriented as well. The technologies pave the way towards a sustainable, bio-based economy
BioIndustry e.V.
BioIndustry e.V. is a registered association whose main purpose is to activate, concentrate and develop biotechnological competencies in the Ruhr region. The key aspects of BioIndustry‘s activity are industrial biotechnology and bioprocessing technologies, microstructure technology, X-omics and bioinformatics. As a networking service cluster of 50 companies, research and training institutes, technology centres, biotechnological service providers and public business development organisations, the associations objective is to generate product- and process-innovations. This objective will be met by supporting the active transfer from ideas to market.
BioRiver - Life Science im Rheinland e.V.
BioRiver – Joining forces for Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Founded in 2004, BioRiver – Life Science im Rheinland e.V. is fully committed to representing the Life Sciences sector in the bioregion Rhineland as an independent industry organisation. The essential aims of BioRiver are to build a strong network within the biotech sector, to improve the political and economic conditions as well as to market the bioregion Rhineland and its members. Thanks to the strong profiles of the partners in the network, it has been possible to initiate various collaboration projects and gain direct access to experts in both business and academia.
BlackIP GmbH
The main focus of the consulting company BlackIP GmbH is on intellectual property. BlackIP is building bridges between stakeholders ‘speaking different languages’, developers, scientists, and engineers, and includes expertise on intellectual property rights. The company offers support in the organisation / re-organisation of internal patent systems and training for employees, monitors technology fields with respect to patent-relevant activities of competitors, conducts research and analyses, and offers the service of an external patent department.
BlackIP supports clients throughout the whole process, starting with the early development phase, then monitoring intellectual property processes together with the client’s attorneys and experienced attorneys from BlackIPs network, and ending with the exploitation of these rights.
chemstars.nrw
Chemstars promotes startups with touchpoints to the chemical industry. The core element of their activities is the exchange between startup and industry. The participating industrial partners act as mentors and , if desired, establish contacts with experts in their respective companies. In addition, chemstars carries out inspiring and awareness-raising activities at universities across NRW to get researchers and professors interested in entrepreneurship and startups. lt is an initiative of
Covestro, Currenta Evonik, Henkel, the German chemical industry association (VGi) NRW and the Ministry of Economics, lndustry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North RhineWestphalia.
Eder Schieschke & Partner mbB
The chemical department of the intellectual property law firm Eder Schieschke & Partner mbB has specialized in representing clients in the field of organic chemistry, biochemistry and biotechnology before the European Patent Office, the German Patent and Trademark Office, the German Patent Court and the European Intellectual Property Organization in all areas of intellectual property law.
Amongst obtaining patent rights, utility model rights and trademark rights Eder Schieschke & Partner mbB’s expertise is also directed to license agreements, preparation of invalidity, infringement and freedom-to-operate studies, as well as German employee law.
As a member of CLIB, Eder Schieschke & Partner mbB is supporting the Cluster with the realization of IP coaching seminars for start-ups and SMEs.
Flanders Investment & Trade
Innovative clusters are of key importance to Flanders as a knowledge region. „Sustainable Resources, Materials & Chemistry“ is as one of the five key value chains of Flanders Accelerates.
The strategic partnership between chemical sector federation essenscia and Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) aims at sustainably strengthening and expanding the international position of Flanders‘ chemical sector through promotion, growth support for start-ups and SMEs, knowledge exchange and more.
With its consistent focus on innovation, its top position in chemical activities, combined with the 1ˢᵗ incubator for sustainable chemistry, BlueChem, Flanders is the ideal location for start-ups and growth companies to innovate, sustainably grow and succeed in the heart of Europe.
IBioIC Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre
The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre’s (IBioIC) role, as a specialist in the Industrial Biotechnology (IB) sector, is to stimulate the growth of the IB sector in Scotland to £900 million by 2025. IBioIC connects industry, academia and government, and facilitates collaborations, provides scale-up capabilities, creates networks, and develops skills.
IBioIC supports transition into IB by helping companies to understand the benefits and opportunities, overcome any barriers and to make sure our members are in touch with the right people to guide them through the technology and its consequent translation and implementation in their business.
KADIB - Kircher Advice in Bioeconomy
KADIB offers comprehensive expertise in Industrial Bioeconomy. We provide consultancy in positioning profitable chemical and energy value chains in your Political, Economical, Societal, Technological, Legislative and Ecological (PESTLE) environment. KADIB provides advice and moderates decision-making:
Analysing the Bioeconomy Potential
Designing strategic Bioeconomy Concepts
Implementing Bioeconomy Strategies
Focusing on Markets, Technologies and Business Opportunities
For Industries, Research Institutes, Governmental Agencies
KADIB works through its unique network of senior experts. KADIB is a member of CLIB (Cluster Industrial Bioeconomy) and BioBall (Bioeconomy in Metropolitan Regions).
nova-Institut GmbH
nova-Institute is a private and independent research institute, founded in 1994; nova offers research and consultancy with a focus on the transition of the chemical and material industry to renewable carbon.
What are future challenges, environmental benefits and successful strategies to substitute fossil carbon with biomass, direct CO2 utilisation and recycling? What are the most promising concepts and applications? We offer our unique understanding to support the transition of your business into a climate neutral future.
Our subjects include feedstock, technologies and markets, economy and policy, sustainability, communication and strategy development. The nova team consists of more than 40 employees.
PROvendis GmbH
PROvendis acts as a professional service provider in the entire field of IP management for more than 30 universities and extra-university research institutions as well as for companies and start-ups.
We provide an exclusive access to licensable inventions of approx. 20,000 scientists from the areas of medicine, natural sciences and engineering.
Our Life Sciences Team consists of experienced innovation managers with professional expertise in the fields of biology, chemistry, medicine and pharma. They identify suitable partners, negotiate license agreements and promote long-term research collaborations.
Scheele Jaeger Wetzel Patentanwälte
We Protect Your Intellectual Property
Scheele Jaeger Wetzel Patentanwälte is a boutique IP law firm offering services in in all areas of German and European patent, trademark and design law. Our clients range from large enterprises, small and medium sized businesses, universities, institutions to private inventors.
The firm is a cooperation partner of US based law firm Ratnerprestia PC with offices in Philadelphia, Washington and Wilmington. The attorneys at Scheele Jaeger Wetzel Patentanwälte have been shareholders of RatnerPrestia and thus have a strong personal and professional relationship to the firm, which allows them to solve client’s needs in European law as well as US law on short notice. By combining our patent attorney services and technical expertise in engineering and natural sciences, we effectively support our clients in obtaining, defending and enforcing their intellectual property rights.
The firm is located in Munich directly beneath the European Patent Office in the heart of Munich.
Schnee Research
Schnee Research sees itself as a mediator between financial markets (e.g. investors) and small to mid-sized companies in different areas (e.g. biotech, chemical industry). Having worked for some years as analyst in the financial industry (independent research house, and rating agency), I now keep strong ties to the chemical industry from by background as a trained chemist (Dipl.-Chem.) and to biotech from my thesis work. My business activities in the area of white biotechnology are focused on evaluation and scouting. I focus on the analysis and evaluation of privately owned as well as listed biotech companies or their development projects.
I was contracted as independent specialist by an investment bank to consult and assist a white biotechnology company in obtaining funding. Schnee Research offers two different services directly or via its cooperation partners faireseach (pure-play financial research) and Breslin. As a consequence, Schnee Research can span an investment bank’s value chain with its entire network. The services of Schnee Research are closer to the money market than to production.
SolarBioproducts Ruhr
SolarBioproducts Ruhr was founded by the business development agency Herne in cooperation with the Photobiotechnology group (Ruhr-University Bochum). SolarBioproducts Ruhr aims to intensify research projects, develop innovative ideas and bring together different fields of study.
We offer outstanding experience in the field of green biotechnology, including in-depth knowledge of biocatalysts from photosynthetic microorganisms. Our team is interested in collaborations across a broad range of fields. Our experience in gene expression and genetic manipulation is applicable in the field of renewable energy, but also for bioeconomical alternatives for industrial applications like the use of microorganisms as chassis for the production of chemical compounds or high-value products.
Verband der Chemischen Industrie (VCI) NRW
The “Verband der Chemischen Industrie e. V. NRW” (the Chemical Industry Association in North Rhine-Westphalia) represents the politico-economic interests of more than 500 NRW chemical companies and NRW subsidiaries of foreign enterprises in contacts with
politicians, public authorities, other industries, the world of science, and the media.
VCI NRW represents about 30 % of the entire German chemical industry, an industry that realised sales of 50 billion euros in 2018 and employed some 110,000 staff. A main focus of the last years was the interlinking of industry and science especially in the area of biotechnology. The association’s policies are shaped by a presidential council which works in an honorary capacity and the VCI NRW executive management
Yncoris GmbH & Co. KG
YNCORIS places particular emphasis on the engineering of individual plants – from process development and conceptual design to basic and detailed engineering, regardless of whether we just carry out sub-services or take over the general planning for every stage. YNCORIS does not supply one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, we adopt a flexible approach and gear ourselves towards the specific requirements of the current project stage – step- by-step. Thanks to a broad range of diverse engineering fields and an extensive selection of methods, we can guarantee the highest degree of flexibility with regard to content.
The Chemiepark Knapsack near Cologne in Germany also offers companies a scale-up platform and access to know-how for bio-based production and integration into existing value chains. The innovative capacity of the Chemiepark Knapsack, solid infrastructure, plug&play services, as well as less bureaucracy and red tape all offer huge benefits for your company to commercialize your product.
Academia (Universities & Research Institutions)
Bielefeld University - CeBiTec
CeBiTec is one of the largest faculty-spanning central academic institutions at Bielefeld University. Its purpose is to bundle the biotechnological activities and research projects at the university, to foster cross-linking of research approaches and technologies from different research fields, and to develop innovative projects within its two main research areas ‘Large Scale Genomics and Big Data Bioinformatics’ and ‘Metabolic Engineering of Unicellular Systems and Bioproduction’.
The availability of comprehensive technological infrastructure as being provided by CeBiTec’s Technology Platforms is crucial for a successful scientific work. Furthermore, the CeBiTec considers itself as a central communication platform and a ‘think tank’ of the university with respect to initiatives and activities with a dedicated biotechnological perspective.
Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM)
The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) is a research facility under the authority of the Ministry of Economics and Technology. Its competences are to improve safety and reliability in chemical and materials technologies through research, testing, analysis, and information.
The division Biodeterioration and Reference Organisms performs research and development in the field of i) materials protection against biological deterioration and ii) biotechnology with bacteria. We are especially interested in biotechnology and molecular biology of bacteria from extreme environments. Our expertise in molecular biology with extremophiles comprises a wide range of technologies to manipulate metabolic pathways with the goal to improve productivity of strains currently used in industry.
Eindhoven University of Technology
Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is a research university, founded in 1956, specializing in engineering science & technology. The Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry aspires to be an academic institution for education and research in chemical science and engineering of the highest international standard. The aim is to generate and to develop technology and scientific knowledge relevant for the long-term needs of society.
Scientific curiosity and the use of newly generated knowledge are the main driving forces behind the continuing enhancement of our expertise in (electro-)chemical reactor engineering, multiscale & multiphase modelling, process intensification, membrane processes and heterogeneous catalysis.
Federal Research Center of Biotechnology RAS
Russian Academy of Sciences was organized through merging the A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry RAS (INBI RAS), the S.N. Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology RAS and the Centre «Bioengineering» RAS.
The Research Centre of Biotechnology RAS carries out basic and applied research in the fields of biochemistry and biotechnology, microbiology, genomics, bioengineering and genetic engineering, biocatalysis, system and structural biology, biogeotechnologies, bioremediation, agrobiotechnologies, food quality and safety.
The Centre is the key member of the Russian Technology Platform «Bioindustry and Bioresources–BioTech2030». The Russian National Contact Point on Biotechnology, three core facilities, an accredited testing laboratory, and an experimental greenhouse are functioning at the Centre.
Flemish Institute for Technological Research, VITO
Within “Sustainable Chemistry”, VITO focuses on process intensification and replacing fossil with sustainable resources. Key is the integration of conversion with separation processes to improve overall efficiency and sustainability: in situ product recovery within biocatalytic processes, biocatalyst immobilization, and novel separation approaches (membranes are often integrated in these processes) are some of our developments in this field.
Using alternative resources (like CO2 or biomass) requests different approaches to deliver high added value products: mild disclosure, (scCO2) extraction, fractionation and biocatalytic processes, (bio)electrochemical reactions with CO2. VITO is one of the partners involved in the inventories and strategic research agenda for “Sustainable Chemistry” especially in the Flemish (CATALISTI) and European context (BIG-Cluster, SPIRE, BBI, SusChem), but also on a global level (India). VITO is also founding partner of Biorizon, a shared research center for bio-aromatics.
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
IBG-1: Biotechnology is a leading institute in the field of microbial biotechnology and biocatalysis. Multipurpose microbial production platforms (e. g. C. glutamicum, P. putida) are used for the production of industrially, nutritionally or pharmaceutically relevant products (bulk / fine chemicals, natural products, enzymes/proteins) from renewable carbon sources. Methods of synthetic biology are used for establishing novel concepts in strain development and engineering of metabolic pathways. Moreover, multi-step enzyme cascades for cell-free biosynthesis are developed.
Process development is based on lab automation systems combined with extensive digitalization. IBG-1 runs an extensive “omics” platform (sequencing, proteomics, metabolomics and fluxomics) for strain characterization and a single-cell analysis lab. Microbial cultivation facilities range from microfluidic devices over parallelized mini bioreactor systems up to pilot plant scale. Lab investigations are tightly integrated with mathematical modelling, data analysis, experimental design and process optimization.
Fraunhofer IGB
The Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB develops and optimizes processes and products in the fields of health, sustainable chemistry and environment. Main topics in the sustainable chemistry field are biobased chemicals and materials, the utilization of CO2 and chemical recycling as well as modular plant construction and demonstration.
In the area of Industrial Biotechnology we focus on establishing, optimising and scaling up processes that take place with the help of enzymes or microorganisms. In some cases, the desired conversion also becomes possible through combination with chemical transformation processes. In the development of the conversion processes under laboratory conditions and the optimisation of the biocatalysts, the focus is already on scaling up the processes and processing the products. At the Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes CBP, the Leuna branch of the institute, infrastructure and pilot plants are available to scale up processes to production-relevant dimensions.
Fraunhofer IME
The Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME conducts research in the field of applied life sciences from a molecular level to entire ecosystems. By strategic orientation along the value chain, the Fraunhofer IME follows the mission to take innovative products closer towards the market, to develop enabling technologies, and provide scientific services to partners from academic institutions and industry.
In the area of industrial biotechnology, the Fraunhofer IME offers research in the field of directed evolution, classical strain improvement, metabolic pathway engineering, and fermentation. Besides scientific expertise, we possess state-of-the-art facilities for high-throughput screening, enzyme production & purification, fermentation process development, and protein crystallization and modelling.
Fraunhofer UMSICHT
The transformation to a sustainable and climate-neutral economic system requires responsibility, great commitment and the cooperation of all social groups. Together with partners, the Fraunhofer UMSICHT researches and develops climate-neutral energy systems, resource-efficient processes and circular products. We offer process engineering research and development services incl. industrial property rights in chemistry, petro-chemistry, refinery and iron and steel production. Our know-how encompasses the areas of fine and specialty chemicals, polymers as well as chemical mass products and biofuels. Biomass, synthesis gas and selected residues constitute the portfolio of possible raw materials. Know-how regarding the upstream and downstream processing round out our expertise.
Fraunhofer WKI
The Fraunhofer Institut für Holzforschung, Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut (WKI) works as closely and as application-oriented with the companies of the wood and furniture industries and the supplier industry as it does with the construction industry, the chemical industry and the automotive industry. Virtually all procedures and materials, which result from the research activities of the Institute, are used industrially.
WKI has extensive competence in the areas of intermediates preparation from biosourced raw materials and polymer synthesis. The focus was laid on the modification of vegetable oils, saccharides, utilising building blocks generated by industrial biotechnology, and the utilisation of lignin for various applications for generating coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers.
WKI stands for R & D along the value chain, starting with monomers to end-use applications.
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
The Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology (IMET) of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf is located on campus of the Forschungszentrum Jülich as part of the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology which holds a leading position nationally and internationally in the field of basic research and biotechnological applications of microorganisms.
The IMET is directed by Prof. Dr. Karl-Erich Jaeger and currently employs about 40 people. Five groups cover the scientific topics “Bacterial Cell Factories” (Dr. Andreas Knapp), “Bacterial Enzymology” (Dr. Filip Kovacic), “Bacterial Photobiotechnology” (Dr. Thomas Drepper), “Molecular Biophotonics” (Dr. Ulrich Krauss), and “Natural Product Biosynthesis” (Dr. Anita Loeschcke/Dr. Stephan Thies).
Hochschule Hamm-Lippstadt
Founded in 2009 Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences has developed rapidly, currently counting 5.600 students in 14 Bachelor and 10 Master degree programs. The focus is on the students, professional and individual development is supported by practice-oriented teaching which is oriented towards the needs of the changing society and the dynamic working environment.
Mentoring between scientific and practical experts, research marketing and reporting, founding, inventions and industrial property rights, promotion of cooperations between science, companies, and institutions are the main tasks. With cooperative doctoral studies, the HSHL offers the opportunity for a further scientific qualification in research projects for qualified graduates of Master degree programs.
Hochschule Niederrhein
The Hochschule Niederrhein is one of the largest and top-performing universities for applied sciences in Germany. We are a renowned educational and research institution. With ten faculties, 245 professors, more than 14,000 students, we are an important contact for companies from the region for research and transfer. Activities in the CLIB Cluster include Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Sustainable Organic Chemistry (Faculty of Chemistry, Institute ILOC), Applied Mycology, Microbiology, Food Biotechnology (Faculty of Food, Nutrition and Hospitality Sciences, Competence Centers CCMB, KAMU), Sustainable Textiles (Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology, Institute FTB), Logistics and IT (Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Institute GEMIT).
Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability (DTU Biosustain)
Why not use the smallest factories to make the biggest possible amounts of high-value chemicals and pharmaceuticals– biosustainably? The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability at DTU is doing exactly this by developing new technologies for engineering microbes, turning them into cell factories, which are designed for efficient production of a specific compound in a commercially competitive way. The Center is part of a cluster of research centers that aim at attracting the world’s best researchers, and thereby creating the basis for an internationally oriented and innovative research environment of the highest quality to benefit society.
Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology: Chinese Academy of Sciences
The Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT), Chinese Academy of Sciences is one of China’s primary national research institutions for renewable energy and green materials, focusing mainly on research and development of the resources, technologies, products and processes for bio-based energy and materials. QIBEBT currently has a staff of 800, 470 of whom are full-time employees and 330 are graduate students. The institute offers PhD, Master and Postdoctoral programs in biology, chemical engineering and technology, and material science and engineering. The institute attaches high importance to promoting international cooperation and has more than 170 global partners including Boeing, Shell, P & G and Total.
RWTH Aachen – Lehrstuhl für Biotechnologie
We are experts in biocatalyst engineering with a focus on directed protein evolution. We are developing novel random mutagenesis methods (SeSaM: Sequence Saturation Method), high throughput screening systems and computational programs to manage the complexity of protein sequence space.
Based on our core competencies in directed protein evolution we founded a company (SeSaM-Biotech) and collaborate with leading companies in the field of industrial biotechnology. With our expertise we aim to understand structure-function relationships of biocatalysts and functional biomaterials in order to solve significant problems in industrial biocatalysis.
SCION - New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited
Scion is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute that specialises in research, science and technology development for the forestry and wood-derived materials: tree improvement, wood-related bioenergy, industrial biotechnology and high-value manufacturing. Scion is developing biorefinery processes to create new green chemicals and biopolymers from renewable resources, with a focus on lignocellulosic biomass: soft wood.
We develop microbial and enzyme-based processes that can be used by industrial partners for the production of valued compounds, enzymes and other biological products.
Scion is New Zealand’s centre of expertise in bioplastic research and development: production and manufacturing of biopolymers as plastics, adhesives, coatings, foams, pulp/packaging, and fibre-composites.
TH Köln - University of Applied Sciences
The TH Köln – University of Technology, Arts, Sciences offers students and scientists from Germany and abroad an inspirational study and research environment in the social, cultural, engineering, and natural sciences. Currently there are more than 24,000 students from about 120 countries enrolled in over 90 bachelor’s and master’s programs of 11 interdisciplinary faculties.
Climate change and scarce resources are some of the major challenges mankind will be facing in the coming decades. The faculty of Applied Natural Sciences at Campus Leverkusen engages itself in chemical and biotechnological research projects to address these ‘great challenges’ and actively contributes to the advancement of science and economy.
Technische Universiteit Delft (TU Delft)
Technische Universiteit Delft (TU Delft) contributes to solving global challenges by educating new generations of socially responsible engineers and expanding the frontiers of the engineering science.
In CLIB, TU Delft is represented by the Department of Biotechnology.
The Department of Biotechnology engages in internationally-leading education programmes and offers a stimulating research environment in the biosciences that combines fundamental science, engineering, and design, all directed towards biotechnological process innovations. The Department covers the areas of biocatalysis, industrial microbiology, environmental biotechnology, bioprocess engineering, and biotechnology and society. The Department harbours excellent laboratory facilities and infrastructure.
TU Dortmund University
The Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering (BCI) at TU Dortmund University is the largest and one of the most successful engineering departments in Germany. It is active in all areas of biochemical and chemical engineering. The strength of the department is its multidisciplinarity, linking various research areas, from fundamentals (e.g. thermodynamics, biochemistry) to (bio)process engineering, thus covering all stages of integrated (bio)process development. The department has a track record of bringing together academia and companies for the design and optimization of safe, environmentally friendly and sustainable processes and products for the chemical, pharmaceutical, and related industries. BCI is a partner in the CLIB-Kompetenzzentrum Biotechnologie (CKB) network.
Wageningen University and Research
To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life.
Wageningen University and Research is a joint venture between the Wageningen University, which focuses on education and fundamental research, and Wageningen Research which conducts applied research directly for industry. In CLIB, the WUR is represented by five academic chair group – Bioprocess Engineering, Microbiology, Systems and Synthetic Biology, Environmental Technology and Biobased Commodity Chemistry – and by the applied research centre Food & Biobased Research (WFBR).
The groups study microbial processes intra-cellular, cellular, inter-cellular, reactor, and environmental scale with a strong link to the chemical industry. The generated knowledge at the University is translated into application, by WFBR, for production and biorefinery of pharmaceuticals, healthy food ingredients, bulk chemicals, and biofuels.
Honorary Member
Prof. Dr. Rolf Schmid
Become a member
The aim of CLIB is to foster industrial biotechnology in academia and its use in the industrial economy.
Various companies and organisations can become full members of CLIB.
These include:
Universities as well as other research institutions and educational institutions that support the aim of the cluster through their thematic orientation.
Companies whose business model fosters the objectives of the association can become members as industrial companies or as SMEs if they:
use or intend to use industrial biotechnology for the development and manufacture of products or processes,
provide services and supplies for the economical utilisation of industrial biotechnology in the commercial sector, or
have a special interest in the use of biotechnologically manufactured products.
Companies and organisations whose activities are closely related to industrial biotechnology and whose membership is of special interest for the purpose of the association as well as investors can also become full members of CLIB.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact us!
