Biotrend S.A.

Dr. Bruno Sommer Ferreira; Biotrend S.A., Cantanhede, Portugal; http://www.biotrend.biz

General description: Founded in 2000, Biotrend is a bioprocess development company, particularly focused on processes for the production of products that usually require multistep chemical production and that Biotrend is able to produce in one fermentation step.

Clients of Biotrend range from start-up companies that do not have bioprocessing know-how and infrastructure in-house to large chemical or pulp and paper companies that are exploring the opportunities of industrial biotechnology and of the use of renewable raw materials, including industrial by-products, to create value.

Additionally, Biotrend invests in internal projects to create its own IP portfolio. One example is a novel bioprocess for the production of natural beta-carotene with high purity and 100% pro-vitamin A potency, using naturally occurring microorganisms, with competitive advantages over alternative natural beta-carotene production processes.

Expertise: The main expertise of Biotrend is the transition of bioprocesses developed at the lab scale to bioprocesses that can be implemented on a production scale. We are experienced in the development of processes based on a wide range of systems, most naturally occurring bacterial strains and yeasts, but also recombinant microbial cells for the production of biomass, primary and secondary metabolites, biopolymers, and recombinant proteins.

Further, we have wide experience in the design of biotransformation systems using enzymes and whole cells. Additionally, we have developed a process-oriented HTP screening platform that provides multiplexed assays that allow the screening of process conditions once the specific activity of interest has been identified.