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With the kick-off meeting, the\u00a0<\/span>Steps2Scale NRW<\/span><\/b>\u00a0project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), has officially started. Together with our partners, we are excited to lay the foundations over the coming months for a potential\u00a0<\/span>Scale-up Hub for industrial biotechnology in North Rhine-Westphalia<\/span><\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The project aims to support companies in overcoming the critical stage between technology development and market implementation. In particular, the transition from pilot to demonstration scale (TRL 6-8) presents significant technical and economic challenges for many biotechnological innovations. The planned Scale-up Hub NRW is intended to address this challenge by providing flexible infrastructure and support services for the scale-up of biotechnological processes. The hub is planned to be\u00a0located\u00a0at the\u00a0<\/span>Bayer AG site in\u00a0Bergkamen<\/span><\/b>, which offers extensive fermentation capacities,\u00a0established\u00a0industrial infrastructure, and many years of experience in combining biotechnological and chemical processes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Within the project, two key areas are being addressed to support the development of the Scale-up Hub NRW:\u00a01)\u00a0The design of the technical infrastructure, tailored to the anticipated needs of future users, and\u00a02) the development of an operating and business model for the hub.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A key focus of the project’s first phase is therefore the assessment of actual industry demand. As part of the first work package, a comprehensive demand assessment has been developed. The survey aims to\u00a0identify\u00a0both current and future requirements\u00a0regarding\u00a0process scale-up, production capacities, and associated technical needs.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your participation is therefore essential!<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We kindly invite you to participate in the survey and complete the questionnaire linked here as thoroughly and comprehensively as\u00a0possible.Only\u00a0a detailed understanding of current market requirements will ensure that the future Scale-up Hub NRW is optimally aligned with the needs of its future users.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n