Southampton's Biome Technologies secure Innovate UK grant

Published by

Stephen Emerson

Southampton Bioplastic firm, Biome Technologies, have secured a grant from Innovate UK in order to scale their range of natural plastic packaging and coatings.

The grant amount of £282,000 will assist the firm to increase the natural plastics it has developed in small amounts in the lab to amounts suitable for industrial use. To date the polymers which have been developed in partnership with several universities had only been successfully produced in small quantities.

The project will be run in partnership with independent chemical manufacturing company Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd. Swann has a presence in UK, USA and China and service over 80 countries worldwide.

Biome Technologies plc is an AIM listed, growth-orientated, commercially driven technology group. The firm confirmed in a statement to the stock exchange that: "This selected polymer is based on furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA), an important new bio-based chemical.

"Our strategy is founded on building market-leading positions based on patented technology and serving international customers in valuable market sectors. We have chosen to do this by developing products in application areas where the value-added pricing can be justified and are not reliant on government legislation.

"These products are driven by customer requirements and are compatible with existing manufacturing processes. They are market rather than technology-led."

Paul Mines, Biome Technologies' Chief Executive, said: "After nine years of significant work by Biome's scientists, engineers and supporting partners, it is great to be taking a substantial step towards industrialisation in bringing these FDCA-based polymers to the market.

"Thomas Swan and the University of Nottingham are great partners to support us on our journey to commercialise this new generation of bio-based and compostable polymers."

Harry Swan, Thomas Swan's Chief Executive and Owner, added: "This is an excellent project that will see the acceleration of an important new sustainable product for Biome. It also sits well with Thomas Swan's own mission to inspire and deliver sustainable chemistry.

"Innovate UK grants are not easy to secure which lends great credibility to the technology and its potential. I look forward to seeing this exciting project progress with our partners, Biome and the University of Nottingham."

Stephen Emerson

Stephen Emerson is the Managing Editor of The Business Magazine and is responsible for the publication's print publications and online properties including the newly launched Biz News websites in Hampshire and Dorset. Stephen has been a journalist for 20 years and has worked at local, regional and national publications and led a team which made The Scotsman website one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK with over eight million monthly users. He has a keen interest in technology, property and corporate finance and telling the stories of the people behind the successful firms in these sectors.