Market Demand and Innovation in Germany Propel Industrial Biotechnology Growth

Berlin (ots) - Industrial biotechnology is expected to grow
worldwide by 10 to 20 percent per year through 2020. Germany has
already established the preconditions to accelerate R&D and
commercialization in this nascent industry, making it an ideal site
for companies looking to benefit from growing market demand.
Representatives from Germany Trade & Invest will be on hand at this
year's World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing,
taking place from June 27 - 30 in Washington, DC, to discuss business
opportunities in Germany.

More than 40 percent of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) active
in industrial biotechnology in Europe are located in Germany.
Alongside these highly dynamic SMEs, several large companies,
primarily active in the chemical industry, are also conducting
industrial biotechnology R&D in Germany. This high level of activity
is a testament to the attractive conditions in Germany.

Currently global revenues for goods produced using industrial
biotechnology are estimated between EUR 50 and 60 billion annually.
By 2030 this figure is expected to grow to a volume of roughly EUR
300 billion, according to the "Cologne Paper" by the Council of the
European Union. Growth projections in Germany are largely based on
the country's collective environmental awareness and increasing
preference for environmentally-friendly products. At the same time,
products manufactured using these new processes promise savings in
certain areas, such as production costs and life-cycle assessments.
In the case of bioplastics, for example, cost-intensive recycling
processes are no longer necessary.

Industrial Biotechnology - Using "Nature's Toolbox"

Industrial biotechnology utilizes "Nature's Toolbox" -
microorganisms and enzymes - to create new industrial processes. The
chemical industry is currently highly advanced in implementing
industrial biotechnology processes, while the food and beverage as
well as the pharmaceutical industries are also using this innovative
technology. Products include biopolymers (packaging materials), fine
and specialty chemicals (amino acids), and consumer goods (detergents
and food additives).

Germany Trade & Invest will have industry experts on hand at booth
1200 together with partners from industry and R&D. These partners
include industrial biotechnology clusters and companies as well as
chemical parks. Industrial biotechnology clusters form a nationwide
network working together to accelerate commercialization processes.
These clusters represent various players from research institutes and
industry. Chemical parks provide a unique flagship model. They offer
a full-service infrastructure and enable companies to share overhead
and integrate with potential partners. This in turn lowers costs and
accelerates the potential for commercialization of new technologies.

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment
promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization
advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities
in the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to
German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

Originaltext: Germany Trade and Invest
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Contact:

Germany Trade & Invest
Eva Henkel
Email: eva.henkel@gtai.com
T: +49(0)30 200099 173
F: +49(0)30 200099 111