Partners

Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP)
Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is an independent, state-of-the-art facility that operates from a laboratory level to a multi-ton scale. Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant BBEPP is a service provider for process development, scale-up and custom manufacturing of biobased products and processes. Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant BBEPP enables the conversion of renewable feedstocks into biochemicals, biomaterials, biofuels and other bioproducts by using technologies such as biomass pretreatment, biocatalysis, (gas)fermentation, green chemistry and product recovery and purification.

Activities of BBEPP in SURFs UP:

Coordinate the project as a whole

Optimise the sugar feedstock pretreatment and scale-up of the pretreatment to

optimise the compatibility to use them in the subsequent fermentation processes

Scale-up all technologies for the glycolipid producing biosurfactants (fermentation

and DSP)

Advise from a concept and engineering point of view for the SURFs UP Future

Flagship establishment

Assist in the communication and dissemination activities

AmphiStar (AMPHI)
AmphiStar is a biotechnology company developing and scaling next-generation biosurfactants as high-performance alternatives to fossil-based surfactants. Leveraging its proprietary technology platform, the company converts renewable waste and side streams into sustainable biosurfactants with a significantly reduced environmental footprint. AmphiStar combines synthetic biology, bioprocess development, scale-up expertise and downstream processing know-how to enable the cost-effective production of biosurfactants at industrial scale through manufacturing partnerships. Its biosurfactant portfolio addresses applications across home care, personal care, agriculture and industrial markets, supporting the transition towards more sustainable ingredient solutions. Within SURFs UP, AmphiStar leads the optimisation and scale-up of glycolipid biosurfactants, including sophorolipids and novel glycolipids, from sustainable waste-based feedstocks. AmphiStar also coordinates the demonstration of these processes at the 75 m³ scale at BBEPP and supports the development of end-use prototype formulations.

DBFZ
The DBFZ Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum gemeinnützige GmbH (DBFZ) is a federal institution founded in 2008 that conducts applied research into the energetic and integrated material use of biomass. DBFZ develops various concepts for the economically viable, ecologically harmless and socially acceptable energetic use of biomass. The aim is to analyse potential areas of conflict between the various objectives pursued with the expansion of bioenergy at an early stage and to develop forward-looking design approaches. The Bioenergy Systems Department is involved in SURFs UP with several tasks:

Selecting and mapping the biomass potential of the most promising feedstocks in the EU in order to identify optimal locations for a future flagship plant. The information on local quantities is also important when it comes to scaling the plant and logistics.
Doing an in-depth analysis of biomass supply and logistics as well as a regional biomass sustainability assessment for the demo plant including a stakeholder mapping.

Fibenol
Fibenol is an Estonian cleantech pioneer committed to transforming the material and chemical industry towards sustainability. Our groundbreaking wood valorization pre-treatment process, Sunburst, transforms over 90% of residual and low-quality hardwood into novel biomaterials - lignin, wood sugars, and specialty cellulose - produced in our flagship plant following zero-waste principles. These renewable biomaterials replace fossil-based chemicals, supporting the defossilization of everyday materials and urban environments. Our low-carbon solutions are used in various applications, from construction materials and biocomposites to biosurfactants and home care products. In SURFs UP, Fibenol is responsible for the provision of raw materials, mainly the wood sugar streams and lignin, which are used by the project partners for the development of novel products. All of the materials have a high level of characterization, which allows us to help out with material development discussions and offer solutions for any arising issues.

IST-ID, Associação do Instituto Superior Técnico para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento
IST-ID, is a private not-for-profit institution, which primarily aims at carrying out Science and Technology activities, fostering knowledge transfer and promoting the involvement of national and foreign researchers, both at national and international levels, in RD&I projects in their areas of expertise. The Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, at Instituto Superior Técnico, is involved in SURFs UP and leads the development and scale-up of mannosylerythritol lipid (MEL) biosurfactants, exploiting agro-industrial feedstocks through optimised fermentation and green purification strategies. Their work contributes to delivering sustainable, high-purity microbial biosurfactants ready for formulation testing and downstream application development.

Uliege
The University of Liège, with more than 200 years of academic excellence combining international reach and strong regional engagement, contributes to the SURFs UP project through Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, its leading faculty in agricultural sciences and bioengineering. SURFs UP involves the Microbial Processes and Interactions (MiPI) laboratory, which specializes in the development of innovative bioprocesses and the study of microbial lipopeptides, biomolecules with strong potential for sustainable applications in agriculture, biocontrol, and industrial biotechnology. Leveraging advanced expertise in precision fermentation technologies, MiPI develops efficient and sustainable processes that enable the transition from laboratory scale to industrial applications, thereby contributing to the development of innovative, high-value bio-based solutions.

VTT
VTT is one of Europe’s leading research institutions. Through scientific and technological means, VTT turns large global challenges into sustainable growth for businesses and society. VTT’s research, development and innovation activities are divided into three business areas (carbon neutral solutions, sustainable products and materials, and digital technologies) in which they develop solutions for companies and society. In SURFs UP, VTT leads the development and scale-up of lignin-derived biosurfactants using its proprietary LigniOx oxidation technology, converting Fibenol’s wood-based lignin streams into surface-active compounds for cleaning and agrochemical applications. VTT is responsible for optimising the oxidation and membrane purification processes to deliver high-purity lignin biosurfactants for formulation and prototype development in WP4.

UL
Established over 100 years ago, unilever u.k. central resources limited is one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies. They are known for great brands that operate in five Business areas, each with a clear vision laddering up to their purpose. The Unilever R&D Port Sunlight department is involved in SURFs UP. In SURFs UP, Unilever contributes its deep expertise in home and personal care formulation to guide the physicochemical characterisation of biosurfactants and support the development of consumer-ready product prototypes. As an associated partner, Unilever provides critical market and application insight to ensure the SURFs UP biosurfactants meet real-world performance and sustainability standards.

AOC
Ajinomoto OmniChem is comprised of affiliated companies that provide innovative development and manufacturing solutions to meet customers’ needs, from pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals to personal care, health and nutrition and food & beverages. Ajinomoto OmniChem’s goal is to create value for society by engaging in initiatives to resolve social issues and improve economic value. In SURFs UP, AOC Agro BU department leads the evaluation and demonstration of biosurfactants as co-formulants in agrochemical applications, including plant protection and plant nutrition products. Drawing on over 70 years of expertise in agro-surfactants, AOC tests and scales formulations to validate the performance of SURFs UP biosurfactants as sustainable replacements for fossil-based alternatives in the agrochemical market.

ECO
Ecover co-ordination center is on a mission to lead a clean world revolution, they’re redefining clean for the 21st century, products, clean homes, clean values. Leading by example and making sure try to operate transparently, they inspire people to make their world that little bit cleaner. In SURFs UP, Ecover plays a key role as an industrial end-user, evaluating and demonstrating the potential of the project’s novel biosurfactants in home and personal care product formulations. Their involvement ensures that the developed biosurfactants meet the performance, safety, and sustainability standards required for real consumer cleaning product applications.

ITB
Italbiotec is the leading Italian non-profit organisation in the biotechnology sector, bringing together academic and industry excellence in Life Science, Agrofood, and Bioeconomy. It leads scientific development and virtuous knowledge transfer to shape a cutting-edge innovation ecosystem driven by biotechnology start-ups, companies, and universities, where cooperation and knowledge exchange trigger growth and sustainable innovation. Within SURFs UP, Italbiotec leads the project's Communication & Dissemination activities actively promoting SURFs UP's results across European networks and events. Moreover, leveraging its expertise in innovation management and bioeconomy ecosystems, ITB supports BSs market uptake conducting techno-economic assessments, LCAs and, social analysis.

LEITAT
Leitat researches and innovates to transform emerging technological challenges into solutions of high social, environmental, economic and industrial value. They work with the conviction that technological innovation will be key to achieving a sustainable and equitable model of progress. With a vast knowledge in different areas such as health & biomedicine, energy & engineering, circular economy and applied chemistry they look into setting a benchmark for the management of innovative technologies. In SURFs UP, LEITAT coordinates the physicochemical characterisation of all project biosurfactants and guides their formulation into product prototypes for home care, personal care, and agrochemical applications. LEITAT also leads the human and environmental safety assessment activities, applying the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework across the entire project to ensure the biosurfactants meet the highest safety and sustainability standards.