Summary of the Roundtable on
Industrial Biotechnology in Poland
3 July 2008, Warsaw
INTRODUCTION
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ROUNDTABLE ON INDUSTRIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY IN POLAND
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SWOT ANALYSIS OF (INDUSTRIAL) BIOTECHNOLOGY IN POLAND
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ANNEXES
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Introduction
The roundtable on industrial biotechnology in Poland took place on 3 July 2008 in Warsaw (Ministry
of Science and Higher Education). The event was initiated by EuropaBio in the framework of the
European Technology Platform on Sustainable Chemistry - “SusChem”.
The roundtable has been locally organised by Ms Bożena Podlaska FP7 National Contact Point for
BIO and Prof. Stanisław Bielecki from the Technical University of Lodz.
Participants to the roundtable were representatives from academia, enterprises, development
agencies and ministries/government bodies with an interest in the field of biotechnology (see
Annexes).
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Roundtable on industrial biotechnology in Poland
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Stanisław Bielecki (Technical University of Lodz) and Stefan Malepszy (Warsaw University
of Life Sciences and Coresponding Member of the Polish Academy of Sciences) opened
the roundtable with a short presentation of the objectives and the programme. The said that
industrial biotechnology is considerd in Poland a sector in evolution and still at the „start
stage“ It is still not yet sufficiently implemented in industry to become sector in itself. It is
mainly implemented in academia.
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A tour de table was organised to let participants introduce themselves.
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Stanisław Bielecki (Technical University of Lodz) presented a general overview of industrial
biotechnology in Poland. From his point of view, Poland has a very long tradition in
industrial biotechnology at academia level.
He firslty contextualised industrial biotechnology presenting the Koln vision paper that was
developed under the German Presidency. This vision estimates that in 2030, bioproducts
will have a 1/3 share, worth 300 billion euros, of industrial production. The paper also states
that the combination of plant breeding and industrial biotechnology will constitute the basis
of the knowledge based-bioeconomy.
Then he addressed research in the field of industrial biotechnology and biotechnoly in
Poland. In 2005, 2,7% (155 million PLN) of the state budget was affected to R&D, which
represents a small funding. 4% of the R&D budget is affected to biotechnology. Around
50% of biotech R&D projects were realised in collaboration with industry (50% in
biopharma, 30 in agribiotech and 15% in industrial biotech).
In March 2008, the Polish government approved an actions plan towards the development
of industrial biotechnology in Poland. This plans consists of 2 axes: research programmes
as well as policies and regulations supporting industrial biotech (cf. Slides 11 & 12).
He presented the state of industrial biotechnology enterprises in Poland and made a SWOT
analysis of industrial biotechnology in Poland (see below). There are 20 enterprises active
in the field of biotechnology of which 8 in industrial biotechnoloy. These industries are using
very differenciated material base and dedicate only a very small part of their turn over to
R&D.
Finally, he presented the different platforms, groups and associations active in industrial
biotechnology in Poland, notably the Polish platform for Biotechnology which is member of
the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem).
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Andrzej Anioł (Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute at Radzików) presented the role
of agrobiotechnology as a source for industrial biotechnology.
He firstly contextualised biotechnology in the time, saying that modern biotechnology
appeared in 1957.
Then, he presented the three targets for research on non-food plant production:
- Develop advanced plant-based raw materials and pharmaceuticals (reduce the price of
biomass)
- Develop plants as energy production systems
- Convert plants into production factories
He pointed out that 13 years is the approximate timeline for the development of new
transgenic cultivation
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Krzysztof Biernat (Polish Technology Platform for Biofuels)
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Jerzy Majchrzak (Polish Chamber of Chemical Industry & Polish Technology Platform for
Sustainable Chemistry) presented the opportunities and limitations of using industrial
biotechnology in specialty chemicals. The first question he pointed out is: Can biomass
significantly substitute fossil feedstock? Regarding feedstock, he also raised the question of
prices.
He then explained the different pathways of biomass conversion. He stressed the general
applicability of renewables in the chemical industry as there are many possible applications;
a huge variety in technology but noted the need for highly efficient processes to be
competitive vs fossil feedstock. He also stressed that competitive raw materials are
available, but non-availability of processes limits the potential of BioRenewables
He then presented an example of renewable sources use by Evonik Industry (production of
emollient esters based on enzymatic esterification).
Finally, he stressed that access to sugar world market is key to EU biotech industry as the
price for bio-chemicals based on renewable resources is strongly linked to the price of its
feedstock
He concluded saying that:
- Wrong incentives (e.g. subsidies or regulation) in agriculture can divert biomaterial into
other applications
- Biomaterial has a global market with world market prices, fair competition is only
possible if open access to these feedstock markets is guaranteed
- It is essential to Make R&D funds available for pre-competitive research in industry
- Use of GMOs in production processes is necessary to increase process efficiency,
avoid bureaucratic burden and strive for globally competitive conditions
- Environmental impact through intensified agricultural use needs to be evaluated
together with CO2- saving potential and other GHG emissions to assess overall ecoefficiency
- Logistic in bio-material availability is crucial for economically interesting “economy of
scale”.
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Alfredo Aguilar (DG Research, European Commission) presented biotechnology and the
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Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy (KBBE) in the 7 Framework Programme for Research
and Development. More specifically, he presented
o The major trends/challenges affecting bio-economy today and the current situation.
He said that science is not only to make university work but to further develop,
products and increase or quality of life
o The European Life Sciences and Biotechnology Strategy for Europe and its review
in 2007.
o A general picture of FP7 as well as KBBE thematic that are covered by FP7.
o Some statistics on the first and second calls in the field of biotechnology as well as
the way work programmes are prepared and the evaluation processes
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o A first draft of the 3 call that will probably be presented officially on 3 September
2008 (cf. presentation of the European Commission).
o The different platforms and networks related to biotechnology in Europe. He
notably stressed the fact that that success will depend on coordination and
mobilisation of all actors.
o The lead market initiative for bio-based products that has been announced by the
Commission in December 2007.
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Dirk Carrez (EuropaBio) presented the work done by the industrial biotech section of
SusChem: an European Strategic Research and Policy Agenda for Industrial
Biotechnology.
He firstly introduced the bio-based economy by presenting its concept (integrated
biorefinery, industrial biotech in the chemicals system) as well as the barriers and drivers
for bio-based products in Europe. He also presented some market figures for bio-based
products in Europe (it is expect to reach 10% of chemical sales by 2010 according a
McKinsey study).
He then presented the Vision, Research and Policy Agendas developed in the framework of
the Technology Platform on Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem) which objectives are to
boost sustainable chemistry, industrial biotechnology and chemical engineering research,
development and innovation in Europe.
The strategic research agenda looks into the future impact of Industrial Biotechnology and
lays out the major research areas which must be addressed to move from a flourishing set
of scientific disciplines to a major contributor to a future knowledge-based economy. It
focuses in particular on the research needed to underpin three broad topics: biomass, bioprocesses and bio-products, including bio-energy.
The Policy Agenda developed by SusChem aims to establish a coherent European Policy
Agenda for the KBBE (he showed several slides with all legislations and policies having and
impact today on the sector). The Policy agenda also wants to stimulate and support
innovation in plant science and industrial biotechnology; to promote production and use of
bio-based products and processes; to create awareness amongst all stakeholders and to
improve investment in IB SME’s
Finally, he introduced the Lead Market Initiative (LMI) that was adopted in December 2007
by the European Commission and endorsed by the Council in March 2008. The LMI for Biobased products aims at turning industrial production to a more sustainable way and builds
on key European strength: excellent biotechnology research base; strong chemical and
enzyme industries; availability of biological resources; strong political support for advanced
concepts of sustainable production.
The second half of the roundtable was dedicated to discussion on concrete recommendations and
actions aiming at further developing and supporting industrial biotechnology in Poland. Discussions
took place on the basis of recommendations that had been prepared by Stanisław Bielecki. More
details below in “recommendations”
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SWOT analysis of (industrial) biotechnology in Poland
Strengths
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Weaknesses
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Diversified research areas covered by research
institutions
Knowledge and skills of Polish biotechnologists
High quality education
Raw materials base (developed agricultural sector)
Environment (diversity and low level of degradation)
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Opportunities
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Development of science in chosen IB areas (action plan)
High educational level and attitude of students
Changes in law regulations connected to scientific
research aimed at protecting and stimulation of research
activities
Political declarations of improvement of mechanisms
supporting investments in new technologies
Support to the development of industrial clusters by local
and State authorities
Low labour costs (including research personnel costs)
Development of sectors connected with IB development
Lack of financing support (not enough VC)
Low demand for new high technologies from Polish
industry
Inadequate or unused research infrastructure
Lack of information flow mechanisms among groups
dealing with IB
Small participation of applied research sector to IB
Inadequate support of IB by State authorities
Shortage of adequately educated managers to
support the commercialization of biotechnological
products
Threats
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Ever decreasing and insufficient financing of
scientific research
Lack of investments in research and new
technologies connected with IB in enterprises
Foreign entities’ competition which is often aimed at
taking over Polish entities
Emigration of young, educated personnel
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Annexes
Thursday 3 July 2008 – Roundtable on industrial biotechnology
Place: Ministry of Science and Higher Education, in room 117 (first floor), Warsaw
9:30-10:00
10:00-10:10
Welcome coffee
Welcome and opening
10:10-10:30
10:30-10:50
Presentation of participants
Industrial Biotechnology in Poland
10:50-11:10
Agrobiotechnology as a source of materials for
industrial biotech
11:10-11:30
Implementation of biofuels production in Poland
11:30-11:50
Biotechnology in Polish Chemical Industry
Ministry of Science and Higher
Education
Prof. Stanisław Bielecki,
Technical University of Lodz
and Polish Technology Platform
for Biotechnology
Prof. Andrzej Anioł, Plant
Breeding and Acclimatization
Institute at Radzików
Dr. Krzysztof Biernat, Polish
Technology Platform for
Biofuels, Warsaw
Jerzy Majchrzak, Director of
Polish Chamber of Chemical
Industry, Polish Technology
Platform for Sustainable
Chemistry
Coffee Break
12:15-12:40
Biotechnology in FP7 and KBBE
12:40-13:15
SusChem: Strategic Research Agenda & Policy
Agenda
Dr. Alfredo Aguilar, European
Commission (DG Research)
Dr. Dirk Carrez, EuropaBio
Lunch
14:30-17:00
Discussion on specific action for development of
industrial biotechnology in Poland
All
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