IBISBA 1.0 · Project

Europe-Wide Network Giving Companies Access to Biotech Manufacturing Facilities

manufacturingTestedTRL 6

Imagine you want to make a product using biology — like turning plant waste into biofuels or brewing enzymes for detergents — but you don't own the expensive lab equipment needed to go from an idea to a real production process. IBISBA 1.0 built a network of 19 research facilities across 9 European countries that companies can use like a shared workshop. They connected these labs with a digital platform so you can manage an entire bioprocess development project remotely, from early experiments all the way to pilot-scale testing. Think of it as a one-stop shop where you bring your bio-based product idea and they provide the machines, the experts, and the data management to get it closer to market.

By the numbers

Research infrastructure partners in the network

European countries covered

EUR 5,000,000

EU funding for building the infrastructure

TRL 2-6

Technology readiness levels covered by facilities

Industrial partners in the consortium

SMEs participating in the project

Total project deliverables

The business problem

What needed solving

Developing a bio-based product — whether it's a biofuel, an enzyme, or a biochemical — requires expensive specialized equipment at every stage from lab experiments to pilot production. Most companies, especially SMEs, cannot afford to build or maintain the full range of facilities needed to take a bioprocess from concept to production-ready. This creates a bottleneck where promising bio-based innovations stall because companies lack access to the right infrastructure at the right scale.

The solution

What was built

IBISBA 1.0 built a distributed network of bioprocess development facilities across 9 European countries, connected by an ICT platform for end-to-end project management. Key deliverables include a BPM (Business Process Management) demonstrator for coordinating multi-site bioprocess projects and standardized protocol guidelines ensuring reproducible results across facilities.

Audience

Who needs this

Biofuel and biochemical companies developing new bio-based production processesFood ingredient SMEs scaling up fermentation or enzyme-based manufacturingPharmaceutical companies optimizing biomanufacturing workflowsCosmetics and personal care companies developing bio-based active ingredientsStartup biotech firms that need pilot-scale facilities without capital investment

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Biofuels and biochemicals

mid-size

Target: Mid-size chemical or biofuel companies developing bio-based products

If you are a biochemical company struggling with the cost and complexity of scaling up a bioprocess from lab bench to pilot production — this project built a distributed infrastructure network covering TRL 2 to 6 with facilities across 9 countries. Instead of investing millions in your own equipment, you can access cutting-edge bioprocess development tools through transnational access, along with standardized protocols and an ICT platform for end-to-end project management.

Food and beverage ingredients

SME

Target: Food ingredient SMEs developing bio-based alternatives

If you are a food ingredient company wanting to develop fermentation-based or enzyme-produced ingredients but lack the R&D infrastructure — IBISBA 1.0 created a network of 19 partner facilities specifically designed for bioprocess development. The project delivered standardized protocol guidelines and a BPM demonstrator that lets you run reproducible experiments across multiple labs, cutting your development time and ensuring consistent results.

Pharmaceutical and enzyme manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Enzyme or active ingredient producers looking to optimize biomanufacturing

If you are a pharmaceutical or enzyme manufacturer needing to optimize your biomanufacturing process but cannot justify building every capability in-house — this project's 19-partner network includes both experimental and computational (in silico) facilities. With 4 industrial partners and 3 SMEs already in the consortium, the infrastructure was designed with industry needs in mind, providing access from early research through to pilot-scale production at TRL 6.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost my company to access these facilities?

The project was funded with EUR 5,000,000 in EU contribution and offered transnational access to facilities, which during the project period was typically free for eligible users. Now that the project is closed, access terms depend on individual facility operators — some may charge commercial rates while others may offer subsidized access through successor programs.

Can this infrastructure handle industrial-scale production?

IBISBA 1.0 covers the R&D continuum from TRL 2 to TRL 6, meaning it supports everything from early lab experiments to pilot-scale demonstration. It is designed for process development and scale-up validation, not full industrial production. Companies would use it to de-risk and optimize their bioprocesses before investing in their own production plants.

What about intellectual property if I use these shared facilities?

The project objective mentions insight into IPR held by IBISBA 1.0 partners and opportunities for innovation. Based on available project data, IP arrangements would be defined in access agreements with individual facilities. Companies developing proprietary processes should clarify IP ownership terms before starting any work.

Is this infrastructure still operational after the project ended in 2022?

The project established the basis for a future pan-European research infrastructure for industrial biotechnology and assessed its feasibility. The IBISBA website (ibisba.eu) remains active, suggesting continued operation. The infrastructure was designed to outlast the project funding period, though current access terms may differ from the original project.

How easy is it to integrate this with our existing R&D workflow?

The project built an ICT platform that links all facility operations and external data repositories, providing end-to-end project management. They also delivered standardized protocol guidelines and a BPM demonstrator specifically to ensure interoperability and repeatable working practices. This means you can coordinate experiments across multiple labs from a single digital interface.

What kind of training and support is available?

IBISBA 1.0 provided both remote and on-site training for users and facility operators. The multidisciplinary environment was designed specifically to support companies including SMEs, with an outreach plan providing complete information about service offers. Based on available project data, 19 partner organizations across 9 countries can provide local support.

Consortium

Who built it

The IBISBA 1.0 consortium brings together 19 partners across 9 countries (Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Italy, Netherlands, UK), with a strong research backbone of 8 research organizations and 6 universities. The 4 industrial partners and 3 SMEs (21% industry ratio) provide real-world grounding, ensuring the infrastructure was designed with commercial bioprocess needs in mind. The consortium is coordinated by INRAE, France's national research institute for agriculture and environment, which adds credibility for food and bio-based applications. This broad geographic and disciplinary spread means a company accessing the network can find specialized capabilities — from computational biology to fermentation scale-up — without being limited to a single country or institution.

INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENTCoordinator · FR
VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK N.V.participant · BE
LIFEGLIMMER GMBHparticipant · DE
THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTERparticipant · UK
TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OYparticipant · FI
ETHNICON METSOVION POLYTECHNIONparticipant · EL
COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESparticipant · FR
INRAE TRANSFERT SASparticipant · FR
INSTITUT NATIONAL DES SCIENCES APPLIQUEES DE TOULOUSEparticipant · FR
AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICASparticipant · ES
FUNDACIO PRIVADA PARC DE RECERCA UABthirdparty · ES
CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHEparticipant · IT
NANTES UNIVERSITEparticipant · FR
CAPACITESthirdparty · FR
WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITYparticipant · NL
UNIVERSITAT AUTONOMA DE BARCELONAparticipant · ES
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSthirdparty · FR

How to reach the team

INRAE (France) coordinated this project. Search for IBISBA coordinator contact through the project website or INRAE's biotechnology division.

Order a report on this consortium See INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENT profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to find out if IBISBA's bioprocess infrastructure fits your product development needs? SciTransfer can connect you with the right facility partner — contact us for a tailored briefing.

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