Novel approaches to a sustainable industrial «white» biotechnology

Funded Projects

BioFuture: Clearing the path for pioneers

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research kick-started the BioFuture competition with the aim of providing support for young researchers from the dynamic life sciences.

Evonik European Science-to-Business Award 2008

The winner of the Evonik European Science-to-Business Award 2008 has been elected. An international jury has chosen Dr. Paul Dalby for his project “Biocatalysis for Chiral Amino Diols”.

BIOCATALYSIS2021-Partners X-Zyme GmbH and BiocatCollection conclude a cooperation agreement

The focus of research of the X-Zyme GmbH (Düsseldorf) and the BiocatCollection (Hamburg) is in the field of enzyme technology. Now both partners concluded a close agreement, to jointly expand the industrial application of microbial biocatalysts.

Groundbreaking test enables rapid and reliable routine diagnostics

SepsiTest ^TM is a novel PCR test for early and rapid diagnosis of sepsis. In less than four hours the broad-spectrum screening assay detects more than 345 relevant sepsis germs. Today’s conventional microbiological methods usually deliver results, on an average, only after 48 hours. SepsiTest ^TM received CE-IVD-marking according to European in-vitro diagnostic law and is now available for routine sepsis diagnostics.

ScanBalt Forum and Biomaterials Days 2008

The aim of the Forum is to strengthen the cooperation in the ScanBalt BioRegion in the field of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Biomedicine, enhance and encourage the networking of academic and industrial sectors and the development of international collaboration and knowledge exchange by maintaining the stimulating competitiveness both in research and commercial applications.

"Biocat Award 2008" goes to partner of BIOCATALYSIS2021

(Sept. 2, 2008) Professor Uwe Bornscheuer has been honored with the Biocat Award 2008 in the category "Academic Research". Uwe Bornscheuer received the award during the 4th International Congress on Biocatalysis (biocat2008) held at the Hamburg University of Technology from August 31 till September 4. The award recognizes Uwe Bornscheuers' excellent scientific work in the development of tailor-made biocatalysts suitable for industrial applications.

The company SeSaM-Biotech GmbH will be funded by partners of the cluster

SeSaM-Biotech is a spin-off company of Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH. The two biotechnologists Dr. Alexander Schenk and Dr. Kang Lan Tee aim to start the company in the last quarter of 2008. The two scientists explain that the start-up will provide solutions for directed protein evolution based on the innovative and patented SeSaM (Sequence Saturation Mutagenesis) technology platform.

Workshop on "Directed Protein Evolution" at the Jacobs University Bremen (JUB)

A workshop for young scientists is offered biannually by the DFG Schwerpunktprogramm SPP1170 (priority program) “Directed Evolution to Optimize and Understand Molecular Biocatalysts”. This year’s workshop will take place from August 4 until August 6 on the JUB campus.

biocat2008, August 31 until September 4, in Hamburg

The Biocat conference series was initiated in 2002 with focus on the rapidly evolving fields of biocatalysis and industrial (white) biotechnology. The preceeding Biocat conferences in 2002, 2004 and 2006 attracted more than 1,000 participants from over 35 countries.

ReMaT – Research Management Training for Young Bio-scientists - workshop held in Stockholm

A fourth ReMaT Workshop was held at the world renowned medical university Karolinska Institute in Stockholm 9-10 June. Twenty-five PhD candidates in biosciences from more than 10 European countries participated in the two day course conceived by the Brussels office of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, TuTech Innovation, and the Oxford Science Enterprise Centre at Oxford University and funded by the European Commission’s 6th Framework Programme.

BASF with new class of enzymes for production of chiral intermediates

BASF has developed a new class of enzymes that can be utilized for the industrial production of chiral intermediates: these specifically modified biocatalysts, which the companies has patented, are called enoate reductases.

Successful DIFUSE final conference about "Innovation in a regional context for a global economy – how can universities find the balance?", held in Brussels

A one day conference was held in Brussels on 27 May as the culmination of the DIFUSE (Driving Innovation from Universities into Scientific Enterprises) project. The project, supported by the Framework 6 INNOV7 programme, has been looking at new to form partnerships between universities for knowledge transfer. The partners of the project are a subset of the members of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU), that was established in 1997.

The German Biotechnology Sector

In 2007, the German biotechnology sector was marked by moderate growth. For the first time, turnover climbed over two billion euros (+14%) and R&D expenditure reached one billion euros (+8%). On top of this, the number of employees showed a slight plus.

BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BEGINNERS by Reinhard Renneberg

This book offers an exciting and colorful overview of biotechnology for professionals and students in a wide array of the life sciences. It is a most user-friendly source for a comprehensive overview of this complex field.

BIOTECHNICA AWARD for Excellence in Biotech Business -

Deutsche Messe announces the EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD at BIOTECHNICA 2008 for the sixth time and together with its partners invites European enterprises in the fields of biotechnology and life sciences to apply for this highly recognised award.

biocat2008, August 31 until September 4, in Hamburg

On behalf of the Scientific and Organizing Committees, Professor Garabed Antranikian invites scientists from all over the world to the 4th International Congress on Biocatalysis 2008 - biocat2008 - to be held from August 31 until September 4 at the Hamburg University of Technology.

"Evonik European Science-to-Business Award" - subject is white biotechnology (industrial biotechnology)

The award is aimed at top researchers and young entrepreneurs. "Innovation is the transformation of research results into real, marketable products. To encourage and honour young researchers who venture out into the world of business, we are launching the "Evonik European Science-to-Business Award". When excellence in science teams up with entrepreneurial spirit, we have a good chance to keep Europe ahead in a global competition." Dr. Alfred Oberholz , member of the Executive Board of Evonik Industries AG.

Professor Garabed Antranikian New Chief Editor

On 1st of January 2008 the editorship of the journal Extremophiles was transferred from Professor Koki Horikoshi, Director General of Extremobiosphere at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), to Professor Garabed Antranikian, Director of the Institute of Technical Microbiology Hamburg University of Technology.

Welcome on our Cluster Website in english language

We are pleased to announce that since March 3, 2008, the content of our website is now also available in English language. Most of the pages have already been translated and further contents will follow soon. Switch between languages by clicking on the appropriate flag, which can be found in the upper right corner of the homepage.