Biotechnology

A giant launches itself upon the life sciences: DSM with three operations in the Triangle produces fine chemicals, including vitamins and crop protection. Eurogentec is a spin-off from the Universityof Liège, with a staff of 300, and develops enabling technologies for genomics, proteomics and biologics. Its products range from peptides, antibodies to recombinant proteins for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

In Jülich, a very particular quartet of companies operate side by side: DASGIP, ACBiotec, Celonic and Jülich Chiral Solutions together offer clients a full range of fermentation services. At the Biotechnikum, a pilot plant at the Research Centre Jülich, scientists carry out research into the metabolism of bacteria. The Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME develops new antibody-based reagents for clinical use in humans and animals and carries out a diverse range of contract research.

Pharmedartis, which recently spun out of the RWTH and the Fraunhofer IME, produces GMP-manufactured protein material. The Centre for Protein Engineering at the University of Liège determines protein structures using an integrated approach and analyses their functional properties. At the Walloon Centre of Industrial Biology (CWBI), scientists engage in basic, pre-competitive and applied research into micro-organisms, plant cells and their sub-cellular fractions.