BASF has agreed to rent biotech production capacities at the Novartis campus in Kundl, Austria. This step is aimed at strengthening the enzyme business of the German company.
BASF has agreed with Sandoz GmbH, a subsidiary of Novartis, to invest at the Kundl/Schaftenau Campus in Austria. This agreement enables BASF to further develop its production footprint for enzymes and biotechnology products. As the companies report, both parties agreed not to disclose financial details of the agreement. BASF is the first external company to rent a space at this new Technology Campus developed by Novartis in Tyrol as a new Life Science Park. According to the agreement, BASF will rent four buildings for a time period of 15 years with an option to expand up to 40 years. At the same time, all production equipment now already belongs to BASF and will be adapted to the companies needs. Investments will start in 2022.
“This investment is a clear sign of our commitment to the enzymes and biotechnology industry. BASF will strengthen its position in the market, as the Kundl/Schaftenau Campus has 75 years of biotechnology practice and corresponding infrastructure, including deep know-how,” said Michael De Marco, Vice President Global Business Management Enzymes for BASF.
“The agreement enables us to expand our production footprint for detergent enzymes and further enhance our product portfolio and leading market position in the Home Care and I&I industry,” said Soeren Hildebrandt, Senior Vice President Home Care, I&I and Industrial Formulators Europe. “With this step we support our customers to address key market needs such as cleaning products with superior sustainability profiles and new product formats, based on innovative BASF enzyme technology.”
"Tyrol is a key location for our global production network. Our investments in Kundl and Schaftenau reinforce our commitment to the region," says Steffen Lang, Head of Novartis Technical Operations and member of the Novartis Executive Committee. "With the further development into a Life Science Park and the settlement of BASF, an important player in the field of biotechnology, we are strengthening the competence and innovation capacity of the area."
Further growth of BASF activities at the Campus expected
BASF seeks also to explore the potential to grow further via deeper involvement in the Kundl/Schaftenau Campus. The start of production is planned for 2024.
BASF Care Chemicals offer a broad range of ingredients for personal care, home care, industrial & institutional cleaning, and technical applications. it is a global supplier for the cosmetics industry as well as the detergent and cleaner industry, and focuses on innovative and sustainable products, solutions and concepts. The division’s high-performance product portfolio includes surfactants, emulsifiers, polymers, emollients, chelating agents, cosmetic active ingredients and UV filters. Further information is available online at www.care-chemicals.basf.com.
Austria will host annual industrial biotech conference
This year, Austria will host one of the major industrial biotech conferences in Europe. The annual "European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and bioeconomy (EFIB)" initiated by European organization EuropaBio takes place from 6-7 October in Vienna, Austria. EFIB is proud to foster dialogue between policy makers and industry executives connected with the bio-based value chain and seeks to reach out to, and include, new interlocutors including from finance, science, and regulation. Around 400 experts are expected to join the 14th edition of the conference.
Under the main theme “Delivering the Green Deal: Industrial biotechnology into business”, the EFIB 2021 program features 10+ focused plenary and parallel tracks as well as roundtable sessions, attracting about 70+ speakers across the two main conference days. EFIB partners with LISAvienna for the 2021 edition. A pre-conference day on 5 October is scheduled to host dedicated workshops affiliated with the sector. It also provides the opportunity for local site visits to relevant stakeholders in industrial biotechnology and bioeconomy in and around Vienna. These are organized in cooperation with local partners.