Germany – IL BIOECONOMISTA

BIOWEG to build Europe’s largest bacterial cellulose plant, backed by Series A of €30 million

14 September 202613 September 2026Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

BIOWEG, the German deeptech company producing high-performance, biodegradable bacterial cellulose to replace fossil-based polymers and intentionally added microplastics, will begin construction of Europe’s largest bacterial cellulose production plant in Q4 2026. The first-of-a-kind facility, located in Elsdorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, will produce up to 10,000 tonnes a year, with first commercial volumes expected in 2028 — bringing onshore production of a material that Europe today almost entirely imports.

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BASF Agricultural Solutions invests in new Climate Center at its headquarters to strengthen research capabilities

31 August 202630 August 2026Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

BASF Agricultural Solutions is investing a low double-digit million-euro amount in a new Climate Center at its headquarters in Limburgerhof, Germany. The purpose-built facility will strengthen the company’s research and regulatory capabilities and support the generation of scientific data required for the registration of crop protection products worldwide.

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The German Cluster CLIB launched the new edition of the SME and Start-up Pitch Event in Düsseldorf

31 July 202530 July 2025Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

CLIB, the Cluster industrielle Biotechnologie, is organizing an event for SMEs and start-ups. The Duesseldorf-headquartered cluster is inviting both SMEs and start-ups, as well as investors, industry experts, and consultants to apply for the fourth “SME & Start-up Pitch Event @ CLIB” on 3 September 2025 in Düsseldorf (in-person event).

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A double exclusive interview with Max Schuchardt and Elisabeth Saken-Braunstein. Stuttgart is the first city in Europe to launch its own bioeconomy strategy

5 August 20241 August 2024Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

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Stuttgart, Germany, is the first city in Europe to launch its own bioeconomy strategy. Il Bioeconomista has interviewed Dr. Max Schuchardt, who developed the bioeconomy strategy of the City of Stuttgart, and Dr. Elisabeth Saken-Braunstein, who is leading the bioeconomy team at the Ministry of Environement, Climate and Energy and the strategic development of the urban and industrial bioeconomy strategy section in the Amendment of the bioeconomy strategy of Baden-Württemberg.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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Evonik and Uniper launched sustainable district heating project for Germany’s Ruhr region

22 February 202421 February 2024Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

Evonik and Uniper officially launched the Technical Options for Thermal Energy Recovery (TORTE) project in Gelsenkirchen. As one of the first phases of Evonik’s ‘Herne Green Deal’ to sustainably transform the Herne chemical site, the TORTE project will feed industrial waste heat from isophorone production into the district heating network. Around 1,000 homes in the Ruhr region will be supplied by the end of 2024.

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Global Bioenergies starts a new phase in its collaboration with Shell to develop low-carbon road fuels

22 January 202421 January 2024Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

Marc Delcourt, co-founder and CEO of Global Bioenergies

Global Bioenergies, France-headquartered company which is a key player in industrial biotechnology, signed a new development contract with Shell Global Solutions (Deutschland) GmbH to further develop low carbon road fuels. While the previous phases of the collaboration, starting at the end of 2022, were dedicated to exploring different potential options based on proprietary Global Bioenergies’ technology, the aim now is to focus on one specific route.

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UPM Biochemicals acquired SunCoal Industries

25 August 202324 August 2023Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

UPM Biochemicals acquired SunCoal Industries GmbH, a German-based company that developed a unique technology portfolio to produce performance products from renewable raw materials. With this acquisition SunCoal Industries’ technology will be integrated into the production of UPM’s BioMotion^TM Renewable Functional Fillers (RFF), one of the products to be produced at UPM Biochemical’s first-of-its kind biorefinery in Leuna and strengthen the overall technology portfolio of UPM’s biorefining businesses.

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Germany is planning to withdraw from the use of crop-based biofuels

19 January 2023Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

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German environment minister Steffi Lemke said on Tuesday she would soon send proposals to the cabinet for the country to withdraw from the use of crop-based biofuels to achieve reductions in greenhouse gases, International Press Agency Reuters states. “Biofuels stand for land consumption and loss of biological diversity,” Lemke said in a speech on Tuesday posted on the environment ministry’s website. “To replace only around 4% of fossil fuel use in German road transport, a land space in Germany and abroad is needed which represents about 20% of the German agricultural area. That is not future-orientated.”

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UPM inaugurates state-of-the-art combined heat and power (CHP) plant at Europe’s largest paper mill

10 November 20226 November 2022Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

BioforeConceptCar_UPM_Metropolia_7_50213_2 — Biofore Concept Car. Full rights owned by UPM. Photographer: Sami Kulju

UPM has officially opened a new combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Germany, bringing the company closer to meeting its ambitious target to decrease its CO2 emissions by 65% by 2030. The Finnish company is committed to meeting the targets of the 2015 Paris Agreement well in advance, through practicing climate-positive forestry, innovating novel products and taking actions such as investing in renewable and efficient energy solutions to power its own sites, while taking part in the transformation of energy systems in Europe.

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UPM and Dongsung joined forces to introduce sustainable forest-based materials into the Asian market

25 August 202224 August 2022Il BioeconomistaLeave a comment

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UPM and Dongsung Chemical announce a development partnership that will accelerate the introduction of renewable, sustainable forest-sourced materials into the Asian market and reduce fossil resource consumption.

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