Degussa establishes new research center for 'white biotechnology'
Degussa is establishing a new centre for 'white biotechnology'. The Science to Business Center Bio will start operating on 1 January, 2006.
Degussa is establishing a new centre for 'white biotechnology'. The Science to Business Center Bio will start operating on 1 January, 2006.
Working in state-of-the-art laboratories and pilot plants at the planned new construction, around 60 Degussa scientists will collaborate with co-operation partners from universities and industry to develop new biotechnology products and processes based on natural raw materials.
The company will be investing €50m in the new Science to Business Center Bio over the next five years, according to Degussa management board chairman Professor Utz-Hellmuth Felcht. The investment will systematically expand the research infrastructure for 'white biotechnology' in North Rhine Westphalia (NRW), which has always been strong, moving it in the direction of industrial implementation, he said.
Over the past few years, Degussa has built up key competencies in the area of bio-processes - including through the use of the Biotechnology and ProFerm project houses. With these skills serving as the platform, it will now develop highly efficient processes in the Science to Business Center Bio. Bioactive products form the second key focus of innovation. Examples of these are new forms of drug delivery systems aimed at transporting the active ingredients of medicines effectively. Degussa already uses new bioprocesses to manufacture pharmaceutical amino acids for infusion solutions, amino acids for animal nutrition, special building blocks for medications and active ingredients for creams and lotions.
The aim of the new center is to continue to expand Degussa's strong position in 'white biotechnology', creating new jobs in the processing industry at the same time.
Degussa's science to business concept aims to significantly accelerate the path from science to success in the marketplace. It is based on integrating all the research and development operations along the value chain under one roof - from basic research to product development and through to pilot production.