DEVRO PLC

Their core work

Devro PLC is a global manufacturer of collagen-based food casings and collagen gel products, making it one of the world's leading industrial protein processing companies. In the H2020 programme, they contributed this industrial protein chemistry expertise as a non-academic partner in MSCA Innovative Training Networks focused on palaeoproteomics — the scientific field that recovers and analyses proteins preserved in ancient biological and cultural heritage materials. Their core technical value to these consortia lies in their knowledge of collagen structure, protein degradation chemistry, and protein characterization methods including mass spectrometry, all developed through decades of industrial-scale protein processing. They function as a specialist industrial training site, hosting early-stage researchers and contributing practical protein science expertise rather than driving academic research direction.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Devro's early H2020 involvement through TEMPERA (2017) centred on protein-based cultural heritage materials — specifically paint binders and conservation science — suggesting their initial contribution was grounded in the material properties and aging behaviour of protein-based substances, a natural extension of their manufacturing knowledge. The later project PUSHH (2020) shifted toward biological and anthropological applications, with keywords pointing to dental enamel proteins, ancient protein degradation mechanisms, and human history reconstruction, indicating a deeper engagement with molecular-scale protein survival science. The trajectory shows Devro moving from industrial materials advisor toward a partner valued for its protein degradation chemistry and analytical instrumentation knowledge in a bioarchaeological context.

Devro appears to be deepening its scientific engagement with ancient protein survival and degradation research — a niche where industrial collagen processing expertise increasingly intersects with evolutionary biology, bioarchaeology, and heritage science.

How they like to work

Devro participates exclusively as a consortium member and has never held a coordinator role, consistent with the profile of an industrial partner in academically-led MSCA training networks. These ITN structures typically bring together 8–15 partners, and Devro's 16 unique partners across 7 countries from just two projects reflects the inherently broad, multi-institutional design of training consortia rather than any deep bilateral loyalty. They appear to operate as a specialist industrial training site — offering laboratory access, industrial mentorship, and applied protein science knowledge — while leaving scientific leadership to the academic coordinators.

Devro has connected with 16 unique partners across 7 countries through only two projects, a breadth that reflects the multi-partner structure of MSCA-ITN networks rather than independent network-building. Their connections run predominantly through European academic institutions working in archaeological science, heritage conservation, and evolutionary biology.

What sets them apart

Devro PLC occupies a genuinely rare position as one of the few large industrial companies with deep collagen protein chemistry expertise that is directly relevant to palaeoproteomics research — most industrial partners in MSCA networks contribute business development or commercialisation skills, but Devro brings scientific knowledge of protein structure, degradation kinetics, and analytical characterisation developed at industrial scale. For a consortium building in ancient biomolecules, bioarchaeology, or cultural heritage materials science, Devro offers industrial-scale protein science credibility that few companies globally can match. This makes them a credible bridge between applied food and materials science and the emerging academic field of ancient protein research.

Highlights from their portfolio

• TEMPERA
  Devro's entry into the palaeoproteomics research community, and the only project with confirmed EC funding (EUR 273,288), establishing their role as an industrial training partner in protein-based heritage materials analysis.
• PUSHH
  A follow-on network running to 2024 focused on reconstructing human evolutionary history through ancient proteins — representing sustained and deepening commitment to this research community beyond their initial participation.