Member Article

Funding boost plants seeds of success for Teesside biotech startup

TeeGene Biotech Ltd, a Teesside University startup business based at Teesside business and science park the Wilton Centre, will undertake a project to extract high value chemicals from plants having received financial backing.

With an innovation grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Network, as well as support from the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant to test and develop its processes, the innovative project can no get off the ground..

BBSRC is the largest UK public funder of non-medical bioscience and invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. It aims to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.

The BBSRC grant will enable TeeGene Biotech to undertake a project to explore the use of naturally occurring microorganisms, microalgae, in the treatment of industrial wastewater as well as their potential as a high value chemical ingredient.

TeeGene Biotech was established to utilise its expertise in bioremediation and wastewater treatment and to commercialise biotechnology based on bioreactors and bioproduct development.

In February this year the startup was named as a runner up in the ‘Innovation in Bio-Based Product Development’ category at the Industrial Biotechnology Leadership Forum (IBLF) awards held in London.

The additional backing by the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant provides TeeGene with the ability to assess the feasibility of its biosurfactant processes using specialist facilities in Ghent, Belgium.

Dr Pattanathu Rahman, Director of TeeGene Biotech, said: “Microalgae are a promising source of biofuel and high value chemicals and nutraceuticals.

“However, there are major technological challenges limiting the extent to which microalgae can be used in this way which the BBSRC funding will enable us to explore them further and try to overcome any obstacles.

“This funding is an excellent outcome and the work proposed in this project will pump-prime one of the arms of TeeGene’s business model, the development of integrated biorefinery technology based on organic waste streams.”

In 2014 Teegene Biotech took part in the icreate entrepreneurs’ initiative, a scheme backed by the Wilton Centre and the UK-wide BEST network of science and innovation parks and set up to help participants to become investment ready.