Bürkert Fluid Control Systems has joined Green Elephant Biotech as a strategic investor. Together, the MSR manufacturer and the Germany-based start-up want to develop more efficient, more flexible and more sustainable cell cultivation processes for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. The partnership is intended to enable more cost-effective production of therapeutics and facilitate access to the latest biopharmaceutical developments. For example, life-saving therapeutics are to be produced more cost-effectively. The cooperation gives Bürkert access to current trends and developments in the biopharmaceutical industry, one of the strategic core markets of the fluidics specialist. “We believe that Green Elephant Biotech’s innovative cell culture systems have great potential to revolutionise production processes in the industry. This is in line with our corporate vision of bringing solutions for a regenerative economy to the market,” says Bürkert CEO Georg Stawowy.
Green Elephant Biotech expands growth area for adherent cell cultures
Dr. Joel Eichmann and Felix Wollenhaupt founded Green Elephant Biotech in 2021 at the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen in Giessen. The novel and patented cell culture system Cellscrew offers an enormously increased growth surface for adherent cell cultures compared to conventional cell cultivation systems with the same volume. The system is also additively manufactured from polylactide (PLA) using a 3D printing process.
Founder Felix Wollenhaupt explains: “Conventional cell culture vessels are significantly larger, are single-use items, are thrown away after one use and are often incinerated for regulatory reasons. This produces a lot of CO2. Our Cellscrew is, firstly, made from less raw material, which means less waste in and of itself. Secondly, we use PLA, a biopolymer obtained from plants. This reduces the carbon footprint by around 90 per cent compared to conventional systems.”
From cell cultivation system to fully-fledged bioreactor
With Bürkert as a strong, strategic partner, the founders have access to resources for the further development of their company. Joel Eichmann adds: “Together with Bürkert, we want to turn the Cellscrew into a fully fledged bioreactor. This requires liquids to be exchanged, gases to be monitored and processes to be regulated. Bürkert has the technical components and expertise to integrate this into a system. Together, we want to develop a cost-effective, reliable and sustainable production platform for the pharmaceutical industry, especially for personalised medicine.”
Green Elephant Biotech is committed to a regenerative economy
The start-up's vision is linked to the green transition, which is expressed not least in the “Green Elephant” metaphor. Supporting large companies in the green transition requires new ways of thinking, courageous founders and family businesses that want to make their contribution to the regenerative economy.
