EU promotes transfer of research results from the laboratory to industrial biotechnology
Dr.-Ing. Steffen Klamt, CDS member and head of the research group Analysis and Redesign of Biological Networks at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems Magdeburg, has been awarded an "ERC Proof-of-Concept Grant" endowed with 150,000 euros by the European Research Council (ERC). The aim is to bring newly developed strategies of metabolic design of microorganisms into biotechnological application. If the concept proves successful during the project, it could become the basis for optimizing other biotechnological production processes.
Steffen Klamt and his research group have developed a strategy for optimizing microbial production organisms over the past five years with funding from an ERC grant of two million euros. Laboratory experiments have been able to demonstrate that production of the cells is increased because the energy metabolism is specifically manipulated.
The new technology will be tested together with two industrial partners. The partners in this project are BASF SE, a globally active chemical company, and COLIPI, a company that develops bioprocesses with yeasts for the production of various lipids and oils based on renewable raw materials, thereby offering sustainable alternatives to vegetable oils such as palm oil.
to the official press release of the Max Planck Institute Magdeburg