Industrial Biotechnology Workgroup

Leader: Marcel Wubbolts, DSM

Contact: suschem@cefic.be

Industrial biotechnology is an emerging and vibrant technology area entering its ‘growth’ stage. This technology is making an increasing impact in the chemical sector, enabling both the conversion of renewable resources, such as sugars or vegetable oils, and the more efficient conversion of conventional raw materials using biotechnological processes (including biocatalysis) into a wide variety of chemical substances, many of which can not be made directly by synthetic routes. These products include fine and bulk chemicals, pharmaceuticals, bio-colorants, solvents, bio-plastics, vitamins, food additives, bio-pesticides and liquid bio-fuels such as bio-ethanol and bio-diesel.

Industrial biotechnology needs to be developed to overcome a number of challenges before its full potential can be realised. These challenges include, for example, the integration of scientific disciplines such as biochemistry, microbiology, molecular genetics and process technology to develop useful processes and products, based on microbial, animal or plant cells, their organelles or enzymes as biocatalysts. Europe is facing fierce competition in this area from the USA and Japan which have long term plans and significant R&D commitments in place. Other issues currently restrict the development of industrial biotechnology. The raw materials or feedstock, such as vegetable oils and glucose, needed for bioprocesses are at present expensive and the enzymes used to convert these materials will require a high investment in research with long development times. An increased level of research and investment to develop cheap feedstock and powerful enzymes is crucial.