When it comes to the technologies of the future, biotechnology ranks high on the list. Microorganisms can help use resources more efficiently, unlock access to new materials, and transform industrial processes. But turning a promising biological concept into a market-ready product involves many steps. This is exactly where Evonik’s Biotech Hub comes in.
At its sites in Hanau and Halle-Künsebeck, teams develop biotechnological solutions for applications in nutrition, health care, cosmetics, and advanced materials. The focus is on one key question: How can biological processes be harnessed for industrial production?
The work goes far beyond the laboratory. The Biotech Hub brings together expertise across the entire value chain, from developing new product concepts and optimizing microorganisms and fermentation processes to downstream processing and scaling up for commercial production.
»Our unique strength lies in speaking the language of both worlds. In a sense, we serve as the Rosetta Stone between biology and chemical engineering.«
Prof. Dr. Wilfried Blümke Head of Process Design and Downstream Processing
Teamwork in Hanau
A special role is played by the Hanau site, where biotechnologists and process engineers work closely together. Their proximity enables short communication paths and direct exchange between the disciplines. This is supported by the pilot plant infrastructure of the Biotech Hub and Process Technology, which allows new approaches to be tested under conditions that closely resemble industrial production.
Biotech Hub at a Glance
Biotech Hub
The Biotech Hub brings together biotechnology expertise at the Hanau and Halle-Künsebeck sites.
Halle-Künsebeck
This site focuses on the development and optimization of microorganisms and fermentation processes. The teams create the biological foundation for new products and technologies.
Hanau
At the Wolfgang Industrial Park in Hanau, the focus is on translating biotechnological downstream processing into industrial practice. Key activities include the separation and purification of fermentation products as well as scaling processes for commercial production.
Microorganisms in Focus
The work centers on microorganisms that can produce or transform specific substances. These biological capabilities form the basis for products such as amino acids, omega-3 oils, and probiotics for animal nutrition, as well as bio-based ingredients for cosmetics and personal care applications. One recent example is biosurfactants based on rhamnolipid technology. At the same time, the teams are developing new biomaterials and additional ingredients for feed, food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical applications.
The success of such developments depends on the close interplay between biology and engineering. Biological processes must be thoroughly understood and carefully controlled. At the same time, technical challenges can often be addressed by modifying microorganisms or adjusting operating conditions in the bioreactor.
“We understand the underlying biology and can translate it into technical requirements,” says Wilfried Blümke, Head of Process Design and Downstream Processing. “At the same time, we are able to translate technical challenges back into biological solutions. In many cases, problems can be solved more effectively there, for example through targeted modifications of microorganisms or adjustments to process conditions in the bioreactor.”
The Biotech Hub demonstrates how closely modern biotechnology and industrial production are connected today. Innovation does not arise from new biological insights alone, but above all where different disciplines work together and ideas make the journey from the laboratory into real-world applications.
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The Rosetta Stone
In 1822, Jean-François Champollion deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs with the help of the Rosetta Stone. Because the same text was inscribed in multiple scripts, the stone provided the key to understanding a previously unreadable language. It is therefore regarded as the foundation of modern Egyptology. Today, a giant replica of the Rosetta Stone in Champollion’s hometown of Figeac commemorates this achievement.
