The global climate crisis calls for a rapid transition to sustainable solutions across all sectors. Industrial biotechnology – and the broader field of biosolutions – holds great potential to drive this transition. However, moving biosolutions from laboratory research to large-scale commercial application remains a significant challenge. This process is often capital-intensive and requires access to testing, scale-up, and demonstration facilities, which many startups and SMEs struggle to secure.

To maintain its position at the forefront of biosolutions, Denmark must create the right conditions to support the entire ecosystem – from research and development to commercial implementation.

Biosolutions Zealand, one of Denmark’s national business lighthouses, is developing a world-class biosolutions ecosystem by fostering collaboration across universities, research institutions, government bodies, industry associations, and private sector stakeholders. The initiative aims to strengthen the framework conditions for the development and commercialisation of sustainable biosolutions and biomanufacturing technologies.

A core focus of Biosolutions Zealand is to support startups and scaleups in bridging the gap between research and market-ready solutions. This is done through several coordinated efforts:

• Collaborative innovation funding enables private companies to co-develop, test, and scale biosolutions in partnership with research institutions and other businesses.

• Funding vouchers reduce costs related to testing and scaling activities by covering partial expenses for the use of Denmark’s testing and scale-up facilities.

• Ecosystem support services help businesses connect with the right technologies, suppliers, customers, collaboration partners, and researchers.

In parallel, the initiative has mapped Denmark’s existing test and scale-up infrastructure, established new facilities, and created a publicly available knowledge bank that shares research, data, and tools relevant to biosolutions development.

The activities under Biosolutions Zealand have already produced tangible outcomes for Denmark’s green transition and biotechnology sector. Several new testing and scale-up facilities have been established, improving access for companies seeking to validate and commercialise new biosolutions.

The initiative has also supported a growing number of collaborative biosolutions projects. Examples include:

• Conversion of shell waste into biomaterials, reducing food industry waste and creating new biobased products.

• Real-time off-gas monitoring in fermentation, providing process optimisation opportunities in industrial biotechnology.

• Lifecycle assessments (LCAs) of plant-based ingredients, contributing to more sustainable methods for cultivating cell-based meat.

By connecting stakeholders and streamlining access to facilities and funding, Biosolutions Zealand is helping accelerate the transition from research to real-world applications in biosolutions. These efforts are co-funded by the Danish Board of Business Development and the European Union.

Partners behind The Lighthouse Project for Biosolutions (Biosolutions Zealand II):
Food & Bio Cluster Denmark (lead), Erhvervshus Sjælland (co-lead), Knowledge Hub Zealand, Kalundborg Symbiosis, Teknologisk Institut, Fermhub Zealand, Roskilde Universitet, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Professionshøjskolen Absalon