Biotop-report 2012

41

BioTOPics 44 | May 2012 

BioTOP-Report

LGC Genomics

LGC Genomics (www.lgcgenomics.com) is 

the genomics division of the international 

science-based LGC Group. LGC Genomics 

has recently merged with KBioscience, a UK-

based technology company providing its 

own range of SNP genotyping chemistry and 

novel instrumentation to the life science 

research and quality control communities. 

The combined company now provides a full 

range of high quality genomics products, 

services and solutions including sample 

preparation (primarily, nucleic acid extrac-

tion), nucleic acid sequencing, genotyping 

and biobanking. LGC Genomics has laborato-

ries in the UK, Germany and North America 

along with sales and support staff in over 15 

locations in Europe, America and the Far East. 

The portfolio includes:

 

k

Genotyping services, assays and 

reagents

 

k

Sanger and next generation sequencing 

services on Roche 454 & Illumina HiSeq 

2000 platforms

 

k

DNA and RNA extraction products and 

services

 

k

DNA/RNA biobanking including storage, 

retrieval and analysis services

 

k

Reagents and consumables for molecular 

biology

 

k

Pharmacogenetics and diagnostic 

services

 

k

Laboratory instrumentation including 

plate sealers, liquid handling robots, 

high-throughput PCR thermal cyclers, 

plate readers and a suite of laboratory 

automation instruments

Address 

LGC Genomics GmbH

Ostendstrasse 25 · TGS Haus 8

12459 Berlin · Germany

Phone [phone]

[e-mail]

www.lgcgenomics.com

co.don AG

co.don

®

 AG is a public biopharmaceutical 

company, founded in November 1993, since 

2001 listed on Frankfurt stock exchange. 

co.don

®

 AG manufactures cell-based tissue 

engineering therapeutics of the highest 

purity and to the highest quality standards. 

Its products represent a revolutionary pro-

cess in the biological replacement of dam-

aged articular cartilage, invertebral disc and 

bone by building up strictly autologous tis-

sue without the involvement of any external 

carrier materials or additives. The applica-

tion of the products may be minimally inva-

sive or arthroscopic and so surgery and reha-

bilitation times significantly reduced for doc-

tor and patient. Because no external materi-

als are used, the risks of rejection, inflamma-

tion and infection are very slight. 

co.don

®

 AG is certified in accordance with 

DIN EN ISO 9001:2008. Furthermore, pro-

duction, quality control and quality assur-

ance have been certified in accordance with 

European Guidelines for Good Manufactur-

ing Practice (EU-GMP) since 1997. In 1997 

co.don

®

 AG was the first biopharmaceutical 

company in Europe to be granted a permit 

for the manufacture of autologous chondro-

cyte and osteoblast transplants under sec-

tion 13 of the German Drugs Law (AMG). 

co.don

®

 AG‘s technological, production and 

regulatory expertise makes the company a 

first mover in the market for biological carti-

lage and bone replacement and a provider of 

highly effective, safe treatment options 

between pain therapy and endoprothetics.

Address

co.don AG 

Warthestraße21

14513 Teltow · Germany

Contact

Matthias Meißner, M.A.

Head Corporate Communications/IR/PR

Phone [phone] 

Fax 

[phone]

[e-mail] · www.codon.de

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42

BioTOPics 44 | May 2012 

BioTOP-Report

 Bioeconomy 

Bioeconomy

Towards the Age of the Bioeconomy 

Bioeconomy stands for a sustainable and resource-saving “green” economy which uses biological resources 

more extensively than in the past and becomes increasingly independent of fossil raw materials. This is vital 

because population growth, limited resources and global warming require urgent action to master the global 

challenges of the future. Biotechnology is essential to the development of the bioeconomy.

One approach is the industrial use of non-food materials which 

do not compete with food production. These are either renew-

able raw materials which are not used in the food sector (e.g. 

lignocellulosis, the structural matrix of ligneous plants) or biog-

enous waste and residual materials. Valuable substances for the 

pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics industries can be obtained 

from these raw materials. In the German Capital Region, the po-

tential of microalgae, for example, is being investigated at the 

research institute IGV GmbH, while other research in the region 

focuses on the extraction of vitamins and further secondary sub-

stances from sallow thorn leaves for natural cosmetics. 

Figure : Regional players in the field of industrial biomass use. 

The following sectors are involved: agriculture and forestry, plant breeding/horti-

culture, wood/cellulose/paper, chemicals (from biological raw materials), cosmet-

ics, pharmaceuticals (from biological raw materials), new materials/bio-polymers, 

textiles, environmental technology and waste disposal/recycling. The size of the 

circles corresponds to the number of players in the respective area. (Source: genius 

gmbh – science & communication.)

Biopolymers and biobased synthetic materials form a key appli-

cation field for the industrial use of biomass, i.e. the conversion 

of biomass into building blocks for the chemical industry. In the 

cooperation project LIGNOS (Aevotis GmbH, Fraunhofer Institute 

for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) and the University of Pots-

dam), enzyme systems are being optimised for the extraction of 

different lignocelluloses, from which biopolymers are obtained 

which are then processed in moulded products, fibres or fleece 

materials. The Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering (ATB) 

in Potsdam-Bornim is a partner of the EU demonstration project 

BREAD4PLA, in which lactic acid is produced from waste bread. 

After being polymerised into poly-lactic acid (PLA), the mate-

rial can be used to produce packaging foils for bread. To foster 

more intense interaction between the existing capabilities in the 

field of biopolymers and the plastics processing industry, BioTOP 

Berlin-Brandenburg will organise an innovation forum in 2012 

in cooperation with Kunststoffverbund Berlin Brandenburg e. V., 

BASF Schwarzheide GmbH and the Fraunhofer IAP.

Berlin and Brandenburg have recognised the strategic and eco-

nomic importance of the bioeconomy for their regions. A “Po-

tential Analysis of the Regional Bioeconomy in Berlin and Bran-

denburg” was performed in late 2011 to investigate the existing 

capabilities and identify the innovation potentials in the field of 

renewable raw materials . The analysis showed that Berlin-Bran-

denburg has the potential to play a decisive role in the develop-

ment of the bioeconomy in Germany and Europe.

A short version of the analysis can be downloaded on 

www.biotop.de/Biooekonomie

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