INNOSYN BV

Their core work

INNOSYN BV is a contract research and development company based on the Chemelot industrial campus in Geleen, Netherlands, specializing in biocatalysis — the use of enzymes as catalysts for chemical synthesis. They help industrial clients develop sustainable, enzyme-based manufacturing routes that replace conventional chemical processes, reducing waste and improving selectivity. Their H2020 participation shows a clear focus on oxidative biocatalysts and multi-step enzymatic cascade reactions, both critical tools for green chemistry in pharma and fine chemicals. As an SME embedded in a major chemicals hub, they serve as a bridge between academic enzyme research and industrial process implementation.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Both H2020 projects were launched in 2015, meaning there is no meaningful temporal shift to observe within their EU-funded portfolio — INNOSYN entered Horizon 2020 with a fully formed biocatalysis identity rather than evolving across it. The two projects do reflect complementary angles of the same core capability: one focused on multi-enzyme cascades (process complexity), the other on oxidative enzyme classes (substrate scope). With no post-2019 EU projects in the dataset, it is not possible to determine whether they have since moved into adjacent areas such as cell-free biosynthesis, continuous flow biocatalysis, or synthetic biology.

Based on available H2020 data, INNOSYN shows a consistent, focused identity in industrial biocatalysis — no detectable pivot — but their absence from later funding rounds leaves their post-2019 direction unclear.

How they like to work

INNOSYN participates exclusively as a consortium partner, never as project coordinator, which is typical for specialist industrial SMEs that contribute proprietary know-how and infrastructure rather than administrative leadership. With 34 unique partners across 2 projects, they work in large, internationally distributed consortia — roughly 17 partners per project on average — suggesting they are comfortable operating within complex multi-stakeholder research programs. This profile fits a company that brings industrial validation credibility to academic-led projects rather than one building its own research network.

INNOSYN has collaborated with 34 distinct partners across 11 countries through just 2 projects, reflecting participation in large European consortia rather than bilateral or regional partnerships. Their network spans the core EU research geography typical of Horizon 2020 biocatalysis consortia.

What sets them apart

INNOSYN occupies a rare position as an industrial SME CRO specializing in biocatalysis, located on Chemelot — one of Europe's largest chemicals and materials campuses — which gives them direct access to industrial-scale infrastructure that most academic partners cannot offer. Their value in a consortium is validation: they can test whether an enzyme process actually works under real manufacturing conditions, not just in a lab flask. For companies looking to license or adopt biocatalytic processes, INNOSYN represents a lower-risk entry point than engaging a university directly.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ROBOX
  The largest of INNOSYN's two funded projects (EUR 478,362), this Innovation Action targeted direct industrial deployment of oxidative biocatalysts — a higher TRL objective than typical research projects, making it commercially relevant.
• BIOCASCADES
  An MSCA industrial training network where INNOSYN served as an industrial host, indicating recognition of their facility as a genuine training environment for the next generation of industrial biocatalysis researchers.