BIOMARES sets sail to explore the unchartered territory of blue biotechnology
The high potential of marine organisms and their components to provide goods and services for a broad range of sectors, like the pharmaceutical, agriculture and biofuels sector, is well known. Crème de la Mer, a cosmetic product based on seaweed, and Chitosan, a dietary supplement derived from crab and shrimp shells, are known success stories. Despite the promise of novel marine products, the derived revenues have been modest. By establishing the BIOMARES platform, UGent will invest in research and innovation in blue biotechnology in collaboration with companies from a wide range of sectors, including bio-economy, agrochemicals, food, polymers, aquaculture and fisheries.
With the support of the UGent Industrial Research Fund (IOF), a new knowledge and valorization platform has been established: BIOMARES. This platform will focus on the development of processes and applications in the field of biorefinery of marine resources and marine bio-actives.
The BIOMARES platform is located at the intersection of five existing IOF consortia: BLUEGent, CropFit, End-of-Waste, ChemTech and Biomolecules. Together they combine knowledge of primary and secondary marine biomass and by-products (BLUEGent), biostimulants and biopesticides (CropFit), biorefinery, extraction, fermentation and purification (End-of-Waste), biomaterials (ChemTech) and modification of biopolymers (Biomolecules).
Ongoing research is, for example, showing the large potential of bioactive substances derived from jellyfish and starfish with applications in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors. In addition to being a food source, seaweed has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. Whereas crab shells and fish skin are rich in collagen, as such they could lend themselves into cosmetic and medical (e.g. for the treatment of burns) applications.
In other words, an ocean of opportunities for valorization for Ghent University, including the development of innovative products (e.g. biostimulants, biopesticides and additives) and new biorefinery techniques, new protocols for aquaculture production, new collaborations with the industry and spin-off opportunities.
An industry panel will be set up as part of the BIOMARES-platform. This panel will bring together companies from different sectors, including bio-economy, agrochemicals, food, polymers, aquaculture and fisheries. One or two workshops will be organised each year, during which new concepts will be proposed in order to assess feasibility and market opportunities and to identify cooperation opportunities. This way, the technologies and products developed can be brought to the market as quickly as possible.
Are you interested to be part of the industry panel? Feel free to contact Dr. ir. Margriet Drouillon, MBA ( , 0484 13 95 39)
