Biotech Open Platform launches shared

The Biotech Open Platform (BIOP) has inaugurated a shared fermentation facility in Clermont-Ferrand. Backed by Danone, Michelin, DMC Biotechnologies, Crédit Agricole Centre France, Clermont Auvergne Innovation, and Greentech, the platform is now accepting its first advanced fermentation projects. The facility is located within the Sustainable Materials Center at Michelin’s Innovation Park, Cataroux. It has received support from the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund, managed by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, and from Clermont Auvergne Métropole.

Technical capabilities and access model

BIOP provides start-ups, industrial companies and research organisations with facilities to develop, optimise, scale and validate fermentation-based processes. The platform's equipment includes an integrated fermentation line with a capacity of up to 15 cubic meters. It also features semi-industrial purification systems and bioprocess development capabilities. The company says BIOP meets strict food-grade manufacturing standards.

This infrastructure enables clients to develop and validate processes under conditions representative of industrial production. Companies can generate enough material-from 10 grams to one tonne of ingredients-to run application tests before committing to commercial manufacturing. The platform is open to entities working with yeasts, bacteria, microalgae or fungi. It supports the production of proteins, enzymes, food ingredients, cosmetic actives and bio-based materials.

Strategic purpose and market need

BIOP is a direct response to a critical gap in Europe's biotech infrastructure. Access to intermediate-scale production has been a recurring constraint for European fermentation companies. Such infrastructure remains relatively limited in Europe. The platform is designed to help companies bridge the gap between laboratory-scale biotechnology development and industrial production. First-phase investment has passed €20 million.

For Michelin, BIOP is a test bed for bio-based inputs. Florent Menegaux, Chairman of the Michelin Group, said, "For Michelin, this is an opportunity to explore new ways of replacing certain molecules currently derived from petrochemicals with more sustainable, bio-based alternatives." Danone CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique said the platform strengthens a 'critical link' in Europe’s biotechnology ecosystem by helping accelerate the industrial scale-up of laboratory innovations. He added that it demonstrates the value of shared infrastructure in enhancing European competitiveness.

Advanced fermentation technologies use microorganisms to produce targeted molecules. According to BIOP, these processes can be used to produce proteins, enzymes and food ingredients, alongside applications in cosmetics, agriculture, chemicals and biomaterials. DMC Biotechnologies, which produces precision-fermented ingredients, identified the cost of proving an early-stage process at volume as the main obstacle for companies in the sector. The 5,000m² facility provides a concrete response by giving companies access to the infrastructure and expertise needed to accelerate industrialization.

Leadership and client engagement

BIOP is led by CEO Khadidja Romari and currently employs 16 people. The platform operates with its own dedicated teams and infrastructure, separate from its shareholders, to protect client confidentiality and intellectual property. Khadidja Romari explained one core challenge. "Scale-up requires experience, technical know-how and the ability to solve the issues that appear as the process moves from one scale to another," she said.

The platform's open model is designed to make industrial-scale fermentation infrastructure and expertise available beyond its founding companies. It supports projects through process development, testing and validation. BIOP has started taking on its first advanced fermentation projects.