15/10/2026
How can industrial biotechnology move from promising science to commercial success?
Our new open-access paper, “From cells to sales: Advancing the commercialization of industrial biotech innovations” explores this question drawing on interviews with experienced biotech investors and founders, as well as real-world case studies.
The paper identifies six key areas that can determine whether an industrial biotech venture successfully reaches the market:
· Technology development
· Product and market selection
· Cooperation and partnerships
· Team structure and competences
· Intellectual property management
· Financing strategy
One of the study’s key findings is the importance of a market-oriented development logic: “market first, technology second.” Instead of advancing an invention in isolation, founders and research institutions should assess market requirements at an early stage and use them to guide technology and process development.
We thank all interview partners for sharing their experience and perspectives on the opportunities and challenges on the long journey from cells to sales:
Joško Bobanović, Sofinnova Partners
Michael Brandkamp, European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF)
Jens Busse, Evonik Venture Capital
Hugo Delissen, Brightlands Chemelot Campus
Christina Doumitrachko, DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF)
Luisa Gronenberg, Insempra GmbH
Susanne Gürich, HIGHEST Innovations- und Gründungszentrum TU Darmstadt
Nicolas Krink, Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation SPRIND
Georg Lentzen, b.value
Matthew Lipscomb, DMC Biotechnologies, Inc.
Rob van der Meij, Capricorn Partners
Nik Raupp, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF)
Read the open-access paper:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbt.2026.09.006
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