Danone, DMC, Michelin and Crédit Agricole Centre France are joining forces to create a state-of-the-art industrial biotechnology platform
Two major French manufacturers, Danone and Michelin, the American start-up DMC Biotechnologies and Crédit Agricole Centre France, a leading investor in its region, have endorsed the project to create the Biotech Open Platform, a tool that will make it possible to develop advanced fermentation processes on a larger scale, and in particular precision fermentation, a revolutionary biotechnological process for the production of bio-based materials and ingredients.
This industrial and technological platform, which represents an investment of more than 16 million euros in its first phase, will be located in Clermont-Ferrand within the Center for Sustainable Materials in Parc Cataroux, an innovation accelerator supported by Michelin. Biotech Open Platform also benefits from the support of several public and private actors: Clermont Auvergne University, the Greentech company, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region under the FEDER and Clermont Auvergne Métropole.
While the industrial world is looking for alternative solutions to fossil resources, it is turning to innovative and more sustainable solutions to meet its supply needs while providing more efficient materials. Biotechnology, and in particular precision fermentation, is one of the most promising ways to meet this challenge. Precision fermentation is a cutting-edge technology that uses microorganisms (such as bacteria, yeast, or fungi) to produce proteins, enzymes, and other molecules that can be used in industry. It promotes innovation, in particular for the agri-food sector and the manufacture of materials. While fundamental research has made decisive progress, the reality is that it is now necessary to develop these biotechnologies on a larger scale.
In this context, Biotech Open Platform aims to accelerate the development of precision fermentation by allowing the transition to the pre-industrial scale of innovative products and processes already tested in the laboratory. The project involves the installation of a first demonstrator production line in 2025, including a fermenter and a purification line. Other complementary equipment will be installed in the following years, including a second line. They will make it possible to meet both the specific needs of its founders and also to gradually open the platform to other companies facing the challenges of scaling up in the industrial fermentation sector.
Florent Menegaux, President of the Michelin Group : “The Michelin Group is pleased to announce the creation, with its partners, of the Biotech Open Platform, a unique tool that will contribute to the rise of bio-based materials, a central challenge for the industry of tomorrow. Located in Auvergne, it illustrates Michelin's constant commitment to the development of innovation and the territories where the Group operates.”
Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO of the Danone Group : “True to its mission and its pioneering spirit, Danone has always been able to prepare and invest in the future. This is what we are doing here together to develop cutting-edge fermentation technologies in order to accelerate innovation and decarbonization for health through food. We are proud to participate in this collective effort to meet the challenges facing the industry.”
Kenny Erdoes, CEO of DMC Biotechnologies: “We are very excited about this new partnership with companies that are at the heart of French people's lives. For us, as an American start-up, the development of the Biotech Open Platform will allow us to actively develop the scale-up and commercialization of new products that use our transformative fermentation technology.”
Frédéric Baraut, CEO of Crédit Agricole Centre France: “Crédit Agricole Centre France is mobilizing to support transformations and innovation on its territory. Through our participation in the capital of Biotech Open Platform, we contribute to the development of a new biobased sector based in Clermont Ferrand, thus creating value and attractiveness for our territory. This will also have the benefit of offering synergy opportunities to start-ups in our Innovation Village, also located in Cataroux Park.”
Source : https://www.michelin.com/publications/groupe/creation-plateforme-biotechnologie-de-pointe
Ready to speed up your placing on the market?
Our teams are ready to assess your needs.
