Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOAT20241203020
- Term of Validity
- 3 December 2024 - 3 December 2025
- Company's Country
- Austria
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
Contact the EEN partner nearest to you for more information.
Find my local partner
General information
- Short Summary
- An Austrian non-profit R&D centre offers innovative prebiotic bioproduction using advanced biocatalysts, enabling cost-effective and sustainable manufacturing. The technology enables the high-quality production of prebiotics such as glucosylglycerol, cello-oligosaccharides and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). Applications span human health and animal feed, addressing growing market demand and offering scalable, tailored solutions. Companies active in prebiotics are sought for R&D cooperation.
- Full Description
-
The non-university research centre has over 30 years of experience in all areas of industrial biotechnolgy turning research results into new industrial process and products. Its current offer is an innovative solution for large-scale prebiotic production using advanced biocatalysts. Prebiotics, which are non-digestible compounds that nourish beneficial microorganisms in the gut, have become increasingly important for human and animal health. They promote smooth digestion, enhance immunity, reduce inflammation and help regulate blood sugar levels. For livestock, prebiotics improve feed conversion, growth rates and survival, particularly important in light of the EU's ban on routine antibiotic use in animal feed.
Despite their many benefits, prebiotics remain difficult to source due to the high cost and inefficiencies of traditional production methods. This is where the offered technology brings a significant advantage. This biocatalytic processes provide a more cost-effective, scalable and sustainable approach, producing high-quality prebiotics with improved purity and yield. The R&D team has successfully developed industrial biocatalysts and applied them to various prebiotic production processes.
This technology is versatile, with a focus on three specific prebiotics:
- Glucosylglycerol: known for improving gut health and boosting immune function, glucosylglycerol offers significant potential in the functional food and beverage market, as well as in dietary supplements.
- Cello-oligosaccharides: these prebiotic fibres are being explored for their ability to regulate blood sugar levels, making them an attractive addition to health-conscious food products and supplements aimed at supporting metabolic health.
- Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs): naturally found in breast milk, HMOs are vital for infant gut development. The research of this Austrian R&D centre on HMOs opens the door to innovative infant formula products that better mimic the benefits of breast milk. Beyond infant nutrition, HMOs are also being explored for general gut health applications.
As the demand for prebiotics is expected to grow at an annual rate of 11.3% by 2030, driven by both health-conscious consumers and the need for antibiotic-free livestock feed, this technology positions companies to take full advantage of this expanding market. These biocatalytic solutions cater to both the human and animal nutrition sectors, offering a range of prebiotic options designed to support optimal gut health, enhance immune function and promote overall well-being.
Technology Readiness Level (TRL):
Currently at TRL 3-7 (depending on the kind of prebiotic), further development with industrial partners is offered.
By partnering with the R&D centre, companies can access cutting-edge technology that delivers high-quality prebiotics at a lower cost, offering a clear competitive advantage in the growing global market for prebiotic products.
The R&D centre is open to a number of different flexible ways to cooperate with company partners:
+ Concept studies with the goal of developing novel routes for prebiotic bioproduction
+ Proof-of-Concept/Feasibility studies
+ Optimisation of enzymes and biosynthesis routes including enzyme and reaction engineering to increase efficiency and decrease costs
+ Upscaling of processes with the company partner
Depending on which prebiotic(s) are the most interesting for the prospective partner and the partner's specific goals, projects can be planned and carried out accordingly. - Advantages and Innovations
-
This prebiotic production technology presents several advantages over traditional methods:
+ cost-efficiency: by utilising advanced biocatalysts, this approach significantly reduces production costs. The enzymatic processes efficiently convert raw materials into high-quality prebiotics, overcoming the high costs associated with conventional chemical methods. This ensures a more affordable and accessible product for the food, beverage and animal feed markets.
+ scalability: this technology is adaptable, offering production at various scales. Whether you need prebiotics for testing or full-scale commercial production, the centre can supply glucosylglycerol in kilogram quantities, cello-oligosaccharides in 100g amounts and HMOs at the milligram scale. This flexibility allows companies to tailor production based on their needs, making it easier to integrate prebiotics into diverse products.
+ sustainability: this biocatalytic approach is environmentally friendly. By replacing harsh chemicals with enzymes, it reduces the carbon footprint/environmental impact of prebiotic production. This not only benefits the planet but also aligns with growing consumer demands for sustainable solutions.
+ tailored solutions: the in-depth expertise in enzyme expression, engineering and reaction optimisation ensures that biocatalytic processes can be tailored to produce prebiotics with specific functionalities. This allows for customisation to suit particular health needs or product formulations, providing a competitive edge in the rapidly growing prebiotic market.
Innovation: The use of specialised biocatalysts represents a breakthrough in prebiotic production. Traditional methods face challenges related to cost, yield and purity, but this technology offers a more sustainable, scalable and efficient alternative. By leveraging the power of enzymes, prebiotics can be produced more effectively, making them more accessible and paving the way to successful commercialisation. - Stage of Development
- Available for demonstration
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 15: Life on Land
- Goal 2: Zero Hunger
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- IPR status
- IPR granted
- IPR notes
-
EP2332426A1 (withdrawn)
EP2509450B1 (granted and active)
Development of new IP possible
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
- As a non-profit R&D centre, there is a lack of funding to further pursue this R&D project. Thus, partnerships/technical cooperation with companies interested in developing sustainable and cost-efficient methods for prebiotic production are actively sought. Additionally, the R&D centre is open to collaboration with investors and venture builders to facilitate the formation of a spin-off focused on innovative prebiotic solutions.
- Type and Size of Partner
- SME <=10
- SME 11-49
- Big company
- SME 50 - 249
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 06002005 - Genetic Engineering
- 06006012 - Bioprocesses
- 06002002 - Cellular and Molecular Biology
- 06002003 - Enzyme Technology
- 06002004 - Protein Engineering
- Market keywords
- 05008002 - Food and feed ingredients
- 05009003 - Animal health
- 07003002 - Health food
- 05009001 - Food & feed ingredients
- 05009002 - Fish health
- Targeted countries
- All countries
