9,36 million investment in Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant

Gas fermentation is a new sustainable technology to convert waste gases such as CO2 and syngas into a wide range of chemicals using microorganisms. It is a technology with great potential in terms of 'carbon footprint' reduction. The Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant will build a unique scale-up facility for gas fermentation, to become a worldwide reference in gas fermentation, and make Flanders the testing ground for this sustainable technology. Down-Stream Processing includes the isolation and purification of the final product after the biotechnological or chemical conversion step. The Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is thus further expanding its Down-Stream Processing capabilities at a high TRL (Technology Readiness Level) level. This will allow the full potential of fermenters up to 15m3 to be exploited.  

The Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant ensures that companies and research centers have access to state-of-the-art pilot infrastructure for the bio-based economy. This will enable Flanders to remain at the forefront of industrial biotechnology and to make an important contribution to the European innovation agenda. As a result, this investment will stimulate economic development in the region and far beyond.   
Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is a pilot plant for the bio-based economy. It helps companies in the risky and expensive scale-up from laboratory processes to industrial processes for innovative bio-based products such as bioplastics, bio-ethers, biosolvents, biochemicals, biomaterials, etc.  The Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant became operational in 2011 and today already has more than 60 employees. Since its establishment, 180 projects have already been carried out in cooperation with companies at home and abroad. The pilot plant brought their innovation closer to the market, new developments that created a lot of jobs. In addition, Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is a partner in 26 public consortia with 123 partners.  
In a short time, the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant grew into a shining example and a pioneer of the biobased economy in Flanders and Europe.  Thanks to the financial support of Europe, Flanders, the Province of East Flanders and the City of Ghent, it will be able to support more innovation projects leading to economic growth and employment, both in Flanders and beyond.

Prof. Wim Soetaert, CEO of the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant: "The Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is a factory of the future that is growing very fast. We are currently oversubscribed so there is a need for additional research infrastructure. With the help of this equipment, we can continue our growth and help more and more companies move forward with their innovation processes."

Minister Philippe Muyters, Flemish Minister of Work, Economy, Innovation and Sport: "Flanders has joined the gauntlet to commit to the climate and fight global warming. The best way to do this is by fully focusing on innovation in close cooperation with our companies and knowledge institutions. For example, on the one hand we are trying to reduce CO2 emissions, and on the other we are looking for ways to use CO2 as a new material from which we can again make products. Through our support of the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, we strengthen the Flemish pioneers in this field and accelerate the conversion of research into practice. At the same time good for the climate and for jobs in our steel and other industries."