Munich, October 28, 2024 — Insempra, a biology-powered company enabling businesses to make superior products with nature, has been selected as one of the six international teams to advance to Stage 2 of The Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation’s (SPRIND) biomanufacturing challenge. Insempra has been awarded a project budget of €2 million to continue the development of its cutting-edge biomanufacturing project, BioTreasure, over the next year. 

The SPRIND Biomanufacturing Challenge, which began in November 2023, invites world-leading innovative companies and research institutions to create transformative solutions for biomanufacturing. Insempra’s BioTreasure project focuses on converting various carbon-rich waste streams into valuable bio-based products through continuous fermentation. This breakthrough prototype has already demonstrated the potential to transform waste such as PET/plastic, used cooking oil, and second-generation plant waste into bio-based alternatives for high-tech applications. 

Progress and Achievements 

The selection for Stage 2 of the SPRIND challenge underscores the success of Insempra’s innovative approach, which combines waste upcycling, continuous fermentation, and advanced reactor design. Since the project began, BioTreasure has not only met the key milestones set for phase one, such as successful continuous fermentation over 60 days, but has also demonstrated potential for significant commercial applications. 

This advancement comes after a successful initial phase, in which Insempra was able to demonstrate the versatility and scalability of the BioTreasure prototype. The technology supports the development of sustainable ingredients that can replace petroleum-derived materials across a range of industries. Insempra’s ‘BioTreasure’ team, uses a non-conventional yeast strain to produce materials for high-tech applications such as polyester and polyamides from plant residues, used cooking oil or PET waste. These materials were previously produced using petrochemicals. In addition, the scientists around CEO & founder Jens Klein are able to produce protein fibers with outstanding properties for use in the textile industry and other applications.  

By progressing to Stage 2, Insempra will focus on scaling production and further validating the economic viability of its technology. 

© Stefan Pfeil for Insempra

A Step Towards a Circular Economy 

Insempra’s mission aligns with the growing demand for environmentally responsible solutions, as businesses across industries face increasing pressure to reduce reliance on resource-intensive materials and minimize waste. BioTreasure exemplifies how biotechnology can contribute to a circular economy by turning waste into valuable feedstock for sustainable biomanufacturing processes. 

“Our team is thrilled to continue developing BioTreasure in collaboration with SPRIND. This next phase will allow us to take significant strides in proving the market competitiveness of circular biomanufacturing, while continuing to address some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges,” said Jens Klein, Founder & CEO of Insempra. 

About Insempra 

Insempra is a biotechnology-powered company enabling businesses to transform their ingredient lists with superior products made in collaboration with nature.  

For too long, businesses have relied on petrochemical production and environmental exploitation, depleting our limited natural resources and polluting our planet. Environmental issues, consumer demand, and regulatory restrictions are changing the ingredients landscape dramatically. The beauty, personal care, food & nutrition and fashion industries are under immense pressure to shift to sustainable alternatives.  

Insempra’s advanced technology platform enables the production of superior natural ingredients at industrial scale to help the world’s leading brands to transform their products. 

Together it is our mission to grow a better future.  

Learn more about Insempra at insempra.bio  

About SPRIND

The Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation, SPRIND, was created 2019 and is headquartered in Leipzig, Germany. The sole proprietor of SPRIND is the German Federal government, represented by the Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). SPRIND fills a gap in the German innovation ecosystem: it discovers novel, disruptive technologies to address the greatest challenges of our time. SPRIND also ensures that the value provided by developing radically new technologies remains within Germany and Europe. SPRIND is financially supported with funding made available through the Federal budget. SPRIND is led by Rafael Laguna de la Vera and Berit Dannenberg. 

Learn more about SPRIND at sprind.org   

Enquiries

Insempra GmbH, media@insempra.bio

Header image by Matthew Feeney on Unsplash

Posted by Nicole Laurence