Scale Up!

Over the upcoming months, we will be establishing a community of interest for the creation of a scaling facility for industrial blue bioeconomy – join us!

The aim is to find experts and operators to develop a viable concept for a modular test infrastructure in Schleswig-Holstein that will facilitate the transition from the laboratory to industrial scale and validate feasibility on an economic scale.

The background: With the help of our partners in the Innovation Cluster for Blue Bioeconomy, a great deal of research knowledge and several prototypes have been developed. What is still lacking, however, are suitable structures for testing and scaling bio-based processes in order to grow beyond Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 5 to 8 – the much-cited “Valley of Death.” Processes that are feasible on a laboratory scale cannot always be easily transferred to large and economic scales. Whether and how a technology/extract/product (...) is scalable should be tested in a permanent facility with appropriate modular technical equipment.

The project is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups that are developing processes for the use of micro/macroalgae or aquaculture side streams, for example.

By the end of the project period (Q4/2026), an operator structure should have emerged or, if necessary, been established, which aims to implement the concrete planning and construction of this modular test structure in Schleswig-Holstein within the framework of follow-up funding. The aim is to give companies and research institutions from the blue bioeconomy access to scalable, industrial processes.

At the same time, a viable business model combining sources of revenue is to be developed. Public projects in the climate, energy, and education sectors will also have access to the facility.

Scientific findings from AI-supported analyses, stakeholder dialogues, and roadmapping will be systematically processed and jointly reviewed in methodically sophisticated strategy workshops. Open discussions, presentations on specialist platforms, and visits to other scaling facilities for knowledge and technology transfer are planned. The connection to European networks creates export potential for processes and know-how from Schleswig-Holstein with an impact beyond the location.

If you are now asking yourself: what equipment does this scaling facility need? What exactly is to be scaled there? What business model are we basing it on? Can I participate in this venture?

Then come on board and click on the registration button to express your interest in being part of this process.

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and coordinated by Kiel University.

Start: immediately (January 2026) Blue Bioeconomy Operator Consortium (BaMS.B3)