Cluster profile CLIB²⁰²¹

CLIB²⁰²¹

The identification of unusual value chains within the bioeconomy is a major task of the cluster. It reveals joint interests of stakeholders, moderates a targeted partnering, and creates implementation plans including funding scenarios. The partners themselves are subsequently in charge of implementation and commercialisation. In Europe as well as in its international network, CLIB serves as initiator, coordinator and disseminator to push the bioeconomy.

CLIB is a non-profit association, with its members shaping the cluster’s interests and activities. The group of members (industry, SME, academia and others) are represented in an extended board. CLIB also receives strategic input from an international advisory board made up of several experts from all areas of the bioeconomy.

An active, living network

To achieve these goals, CLIB carries out different activities and coordinates several associated programs which cover diverse aspects of the bioeconomy. The aim is to generate an active network, which invites members to become involved, to bring in their own ideas and to generate a real benefit for their companies or institutions. To this end, events like the annual conference CIC, bi-monthly forum events, topic-specific workshops, dedicated small partnering meetings and visits to partners, sites or meetings in Germany and abroad are organized.

From basic to applied research: R&D projects, research partners and academic initiatives

CLIB supports R&D cooperation projects within the context of the bioeconomy with a focus on industrial biotechnology. The CLIB office provides expert advice for funding options and helps to find cooperation partners in academia, small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) and industry – at German, European and international levels. To achieve this, partnering activities with topics along the value chain ranging from basic research to market trends are organized regularly.

CLIB aims to connect academic research to innovative SMEs and multinational global players. The universities in the cluster’s network have strong track records in basic research while also branching out into applied research and start-ups. Other research organizations have dedicated applied focus, such as the Fraunhofer Institutes for example.

Within CLIB, the Technology Cluster (CLIB-TC) and the CLIB-Graduate Cluster (CLIB-GC) are two main academic initiatives to drive technology development and to ensure the next generation of excellent biotech professionals. The CLIB-GC is one of the largest structured doctoral programs in Europe, with over 120 doctoral students in total. It was established in 2009 by Bielefeld University, TU Dortmund University, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf and the Forschungszentrum Jülich, with the central coordination carried out by CLIB. The CLIB-GC ensures the qualification of young scientists in key areas of industrial biotechnology.

These areas are also addressed by the CLIB-Technology Cluster (CLIB-TC). It comprises the four research platforms PolyOmics, ExpressO, RedoxCell, and Innovative Downstream Processes. They are established at the same universities which are involved in the CLIB-GC. They bring together different academic groups and provide a critical mass to generate novel technologies and new scientific insights that are crucial for biotechnological processes and products. The CLIB-TC helps to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

From invention to innovation-developing a successful business model

An invention only becomes an innovation if it can be implemented and commercialized. To this end, CLIB seeks to include competence in IP and legal issues, techno-economic evaluation, and market entry in its network. Access to industrial sites is especially relevant to start-ups and SMEs. With 20% of the members being investors, consultants, infrastructure providers, or networks, this is also reflected by CLIB’s membership structure. Supporting inventors in setting up their businesses is another task of the cluster. For example b.value (Dortmund), which is cooperating closely with CLIB, assists young scientists in elaborating a business plan and establishing their company.

Global actions

The bioeconomy is a worldwide trend requiring a global approach. Members and strong partners in Germany, Europe, North and South America, Malaysia and Russia, are the cluster’s links to global markets. CLIB has contact points at partners’ in Canada, Russia, Malaysia and Brazil. It is in these regions, and Europe, that most activities centre. Examples include joint workshops between German and Canadian SMEs or successful partnering sessions in Brazil, which directly generated several projects submitted for funding. CLIB is also active in two European public-private partnerships funded within Horizon2020: BBI and SPIRE.

Closer to home, CLIB aims to form stronger trilateral contacts between its German home state of North Rhine-Westphalia, The Netherlands and Flanders through the BIG-C initiative. This Bio Innovation Growth mega Cluster (BIG-C) is a cross-border smart specialisation initiative aiming to transform these three regions into the global leader of bio-based innovation growth. The mega-cluster has been a powerhouse of industrial innovation in the chemistry sector for decades. Institutions, infrastructure, macroeconomics, and education are excellent; meaning the mega-cluster already excels at the four pillars of competitiveness.

BIG-C has been established by the cluster organizations BE-Basic (The Netherlands), CLIB (NRW, Germany) and Flanders Initiative for Sustainable Chemistry (FISCH, Flanders, Belgium) which each represent several other participating bioeconomy organisations in their home regions. The aim is to transform this top industrial region into a global leader in a bio-based, resource-efficient economy. The overarching goal is a comprehensive feedstock change with a focus on regionally available bio-based and sustainable raw materials, climate protection, and safeguarding jobs in the mega-region.

Bioeconomy – main focus areas

CLIB mainly focuses on industrial biotechnology for the chemical industry: raw materials, biocatalysts, processes, products, and technologies that result in monomers, fine chemicals, or in their functionalization.

Applying a broad definition of industrial biotechnology, also the biotechnological production of pharmaceutical building blocks or biologics is included. In recent years, the bioeconomy has started to increasingly address bulk chemicals and biofuels; topics which have been taken up at CLIB as well. In this regard, alternative feedstocks like side streams or emissions from industrial processes and power generation, or wastes from agriculture and forestry are also becoming more relevant. How to utilize these resources for the bioeconomy is addressed by the regional innovation network “Stoffströme”.

The so called regional innovation network , Model Region for Innovative and Sustainable Material Flow” (RIN Stoffströme) is coordinated by CLIB, in cooperation with “EnergieAgentur.NRW” and “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Abfallwirtschaft” (DGAW, German Society for Waste Management) and is funded by the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry for Innovation, Science and Research (MIWF). The project’s goal is to set up a network of involved stakeholders in the Rhineland (the region around the cities Cologne and Düsseldorf) to improve exploitation of biomass, wastes and side streams in the region. By this approach RIN addresses the grand societal challenges resource scarcity and climate change. In order to achieve a better utilisation of these feedstocks, a cascading approach is promoted. The implementation of cascading use involves the formation of new unusual value chains across different industries. Technologies utilizing off-gases from steel production or side streams from food production will bring those industries into a circular economy with the chemical industry.

CLIB invites all interested parties to join its network. Let us join forces to help the bioeconomy enter industrial practice.

E-mail: info@clib2021.de

www.clib2021.com