PERSEO BIOTECHNOLOGY S.L.

Their core work

Perseo Biotechnology is a Spanish SME specializing in biorefinery technologies that convert municipal solid waste and urban biowaste into valuable bio-based chemicals and materials. They develop and demonstrate processes for producing bioethanol, bioethylene, biopolymers (PHA), and biomethane from waste streams at semi-industrial scale. Their core capability lies in integrating multiple bioconversion pathways — fermentation, catalytic conversion, and anaerobic digestion — into coherent waste-to-value chains. They bridge the gap between lab-scale biotechnology and industrial deployment of circular bioeconomy solutions.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2017-2020), Perseo focused squarely on municipal solid waste biorefinery — converting MSW into a portfolio of bio-based products like bioethanol, bioethylene, PHA, and biomethane at semi-industrial scale. By 2019-2021, their focus shifted upstream toward urban biowaste utilization and then into catalytic chemistry, particularly CO2 conversion using electrocatalysis and enzymatic methods. This represents a clear evolution from waste-processing biotech toward green chemistry and carbon capture valorization.

Perseo is expanding from pure waste biorefinery into catalytic conversion of CO2 emissions, positioning themselves at the intersection of circular economy and carbon capture utilization.

How they like to work

Perseo operates primarily as a consortium participant (3 of 4 projects) but has demonstrated coordination capability in URBIOFIN, their flagship and highest-funded project. With 70 unique partners across 17 countries, they are well-networked for an SME of their size. Their pattern suggests they bring specialized biorefinery expertise to large Innovation Action consortia rather than leading from the front — a typical profile for a technology SME that contributes domain-specific know-how.

Extensive network for a small biotech SME: 70 unique consortium partners across 17 countries, built through participation in large-scale Innovation Actions and BBI projects. Their reach spans most of Europe, reflecting the broad consortia typical of Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking projects.

What sets them apart

Perseo stands out as one of few Spanish SMEs that can both coordinate and contribute to large-scale biorefinery demonstration projects — URBIOFIN was a substantial coordination effort for a small company. Their specific strength is in integrating multiple bioconversion pathways (fermentation, VFA production, PHA synthesis) within a single waste-to-value chain, rather than focusing on a single output. Their recent pivot toward catalytic CO2 conversion adds a carbon utilization dimension that few waste biotech SMEs possess.

Highlights from their portfolio

• URBIOFIN
  Their flagship as coordinator (EUR 657K) — a full-scale demonstration of integrated MSW biorefinery producing bioethanol, bioethylene, PHA, biomethane, and biofertiliser at semi-industrial scale.
• CATCO2NVERS
  Signals their strategic pivot into catalytic CO2 conversion using electrocatalysis, enzymatic catalysis, and thermocatalysis — a significant expansion beyond traditional biorefinery.
• WaysTUP!
  Focused on disruptive urban biowaste transformation in city contexts, bridging waste management with bio-based product manufacturing in urban settings.