At present, the world is facing an enormous challenge, which calls for increasingly urgent action due to the growth of the world’s population. We human beings across the globe are witnessing climate change, pollution, water, and food scarcity, health and hygiene challenges, and more. For that matter, modern biotechnology is the answer that offers unique opportunities to create a sustainable, bio-based future.
What is biotechnology?
Biotechnology is the technology applied to biology and subfields of biology including, genetics, molecular biology, and much more. It utilises cellular and biomolecular processes to create technologies and products that help improve our lives and nature.
Planet B.io – Unique hub for biotechnology
In this regard, Constantijn van Oranje will be opening Planet B.io on Biotech Campus Delft, the center for open innovation in industrial biotechnology.
Constantijn van Oranje, Special Envoy TechLeap.NL (formerly StartupDelta):Â
The Netherlands has a global reputation in biotechnology. To increase the impact of this, more, better, and faster-growing start-ups are needed. The arrival of Planet B.io is, therefore, not only an important step in further strengthening our ecosystem but also a leap forward in accelerating the (international) growth of our biotechnology companies.
This acts as a unique hub for biotechnology where research and development, scaling up new sustainable innovations, can be done. Notably, Planet B.io offers laboratories and offices to innovative biotech companies and is fully committed to the successful growth of these companies.
Furthermore, Planet B.io will provide modern facilities and access to biotechnological knowledge and upscaling opportunities for start-up biotechnology companies. The innovation center is also expected to create hundreds of extra jobs in the coming years on the Biotech Campus Delft.
For the uninitiated, the Biotech Campus Delft is located on the DSM site in Delft, where more than 1200 people are working on developing, scaling up and commercializing ‘bio-based’ innovations.
Linear to sustainable, circular economy!
In fact, DSM, TU Delft, the Municipality of Delft, the Province of South Holland, and InnovationQuarter have collaborated in an attempt to make the campus Delft into a biotech innovation hub with international appeal.
Moreover, they also believe that facilitating the transition to a sustainable, circular economy will offer great opportunities for biotechnology, but also realize that there will be significant challenges.
Cindy Gerhardt, Director of Planet B.io:Â
We realize that the transition to a sustainable economy requires action. The Planet B.io team will ensure that the unique knowledge and infrastructure on Biotech Campus Delft is made more widely available. TU Delft will play an important role in setting up and implementing innovative research programs, and talented young entrepreneurs will be able to set up their businesses at Planet B.io.
Home to four young companies!
Planet B.io is currently home to four young companies that are developing their biotechnological innovations here. They are:
Veramaris -Working on sustainable fish feed for farmed fish based on algae
Avansya – It produces the low-calorie sweetener ‘Stevia’ in a sustainable way, not from plants but yeast cells.
Meatable – This startup is pioneering a process to make meat production more sustainable and efficient. They are in the process of developing real meat, without the need to slaughter animals, and with minimal impact on the environment.
Delft Advanced Biorenewables (DAB) – It is developing an innovative technology to cut the costs of large-scale biotechnological processes.
Stay tuned to Silicon Canals for more updates in the tech startup world.
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