Photo: Kaupo Reede, Head of Biorefining at Metrosert’s Applied Research Centre, in the premises of the soon-to-be-completed synthetic biology pilot plant.
Estonia’s applied research centre and central metrology authority Metrosert has signed a contract worth nearly €2 million with construction company Savekate OÜ to establish a unique synthetic biology pilot plant in Estonia. The new infrastructure will give biotechnology companies a previously unavailable opportunity to test and develop new production processes before making major industrial investments, helping laboratory-developed solutions reach the market faster.
The pilot plant will serve companies developing products and ingredients based on biological and renewable raw materials. It will enable the development and testing of larger-scale production processes for proteins, enzymes, yeasts, plant-based fats and other bio-based substances used in the food, chemical, materials and pharmaceutical industries. These technologies can replace fossil-based raw materials and make production more resource-efficient and environmentally sustainable.
According to Kaupo Reede, Head of Biorefining at Metrosert’s Applied Research Centre, synthetic biology is rapidly becoming one of the foundations of next-generation industry.
“Estonia has companies and researchers with strong expertise and solutions that have already been developed at laboratory scale. However, taking the next major step requires a facility where these technologies can be tested at an industrially relevant scale. Until now, this capability has not existed in Estonia, forcing companies to look for opportunities abroad. The new pilot plant will help close this gap,” Reede said.
He added that the lack of such a pilot facility has been a serious bottleneck in the region, preventing many biotechnology companies from successfully bringing their products to market.
“Biotechnology is a capital-intensive and highly regulated field. Before starting mass production, companies must demonstrate that their processes work, assess their reliability and produce the first batches for customers and business partners. For most companies, building their own pilot plant is neither financially feasible nor practical. Metrosert’s shared pilot infrastructure will help reduce development risks and accelerate the transition of technologies to industrial production,” Reede explained.
In addition to providing access to the pilot plant, Metrosert will support companies in planning development projects, finding international partners and preparing collaborative projects.
As the pilot plant will also be used to develop solutions for the food industry and novel foods, it will be built to comply with strict international food safety requirements. This will allow companies to develop processes and manufacture prototypes in an environment that supports their further transition towards industrial production and international markets.
Metrosert’s synthetic biology pilot plant is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.