New CLIB Focus Group “Scale-up” kicked off

 

Many CLIB members, from SME to industry, put high efforts into translating their technology from lab to production scale. This interest reflects not only in CLIB’s project portfolio but now also in a newly initiated CLIB Focus Group on “Scale-up”.

During a virtual kick-off meeting, the group elected Jörn Viell (RWTH Aachen University, AVT) as Focus Group leader for the first two years. In an interactive workshop format, the participants furthermore discussed the strategic focus for the coming year(s), collected and prioritized focus topics and set the foundation for productive and supportive future collaborations.

In the coming year, the group has decided to focus on:

• Models for productive cooperation between institutions and shared use of owned infrastructure
• Streamlined knowledge transfer about do’s and don’ts during technical scale-up bridging the gap between lab and industry scale
• How to deepen the process understanding during scale-up by appropriate modelling and scale-down simulations

General scope of the Focus Group (preliminary)

The CLIB Focus Group “Scale-Up” addresses the challenges of bringing biotechnological processes from lab to production scale. It brings together researchers, technology providers, facility operators, and industry representatives to exchange practical knowledge on translating laboratory-scale processes into robust, economically viable production.

While also linking these considerations to business models, investment needs, and the policy framework, it will explore merely technical challenges and opportunities in scale-up facilities – including access to equipment, pilot infrastructure, expertise, and suitable collaboration models.

Alongside facility access and knowledge sharing, the group will examine how process modelling, digital tools, and appropriate measurement strategies can reduce uncertainty, improve decision-making, and accelerate scale-up. The aim is to identify shared needs and directions for development that align development of technology readiness with commercial objectives.

How to join

The CLIB Focus Groups are member-exclusive expert groups on specific topics, from our members and for our members’ needs. If you are CLIB member and would like to join this or one of the other Focus Groups (C1 Feedstocks, Biomaterial & Recycling), please contact us directly.