Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology

What Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology does

QIBEBT is a state-owned research institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), headquartered at No. 189 Songling Road, Laoshan District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. Founded in 2006, it focuses on bioenergy, bioprocess technology, single-cell analysis, microbiome science, and advanced functional materials for energy and environmental applications. The institute employs 251–500 staff (including 296 postdoctoral fellows) and operates under CAS governance with leadership from Director Prof. Lu Xuefeng, Single-Cell Center Director Prof. Xu Jian, and Biomimetic for Solid State Energy Group leader Prof. Cui Guanglei.

QIBEBT's technology stack centers on proprietary single-cell Raman spectroscopy, branded as Ramanomics. Core platforms include the Ramanomics Instrument Series (RACS-Seq, FlowRACS, EasySort), Process Ramanomics for real-time industrial fermentation monitoring, the Metaramanomics platform underlying the international iMAPS consortium, and clinical/industrial platforms such as the Ramanome-based Phage Susceptibility Test (RPST), Multi-Feature Antifungal Susceptibility Testing (MAFST), Digital Colony Picker (DCP), Static Droplet Array (SDA), and IMSCA. Materials innovations include bioinspired covalent organic framework (COF) membranes for heavy metal extraction (~1.4 nm channels), crystalline carbon nitride membranes for selective lithium/magnesium separation (selectivity ratio 1,708), and a zero-strain cathode material (LTG0.25PSSe0.2) for all-solid-state lithium batteries enabling 20,000+ cycle life. Machine learning is integrated throughout — including random forest models for phage susceptibility prediction and classifiers achieving 99.75% cell-type accuracy in Process Ramanomics.

Revenue is generated through three streams: government research funding (CAS and National Natural Science Foundation of China grants), technology licensing and transfer to industrial partners, and contract research with international and domestic companies. By end of 2020, QIBEBT had established substantive cooperation with more than 200 enterprises, transformed nearly 20 research achievements, and established 8 industrialization companies with leading enterprises. International industry partners include Shell, Boeing, Total, Samsung, and Solix; academic collaborators include UC San Diego, Imperial College London, the University of Hong Kong, Tsinghua University, and Chiang Mai University. Commercial pricing is not publicly disclosed, consistent with the institute's government-research operating model.

Name

Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology

Legal name

Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Website

https://english.qibebt.cas.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

QIBEBT is a Chinese Academy of Sciences research institute in Qingdao, China, developing single-cell Raman spectroscopy platforms (Ramanomics), bioinspired membranes for metal extraction, microbiome tools, and advanced battery materials for industrial, clinical, and environmental applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bioenergy and Bioprocess Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Bio-based Materials & Fibers (e.g., cellulose derivatives, lignin-based materials, nanocellulose) (EUAAAIAD)

Keywords

• Bioenergy research
• Bioprocess technology
• Single-cell analysis
• Microbiome platforms
• Bioinspired membranes

Headquarters

HQ city

Qingdao Shi

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: Primary funding from Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Natural Science Foundation of China, and other government sources for basic and applied research programs.
2. Technology Licensing and Transfer: By end of 2020, established substantive cooperation with more than 200 enterprises including cooperative R&D, technology licensing, and technology transfer arrangements. Realized transformation of nearly 20 achievements and established 8 industrialization companies with leading enterprises.
3. Industry Collaboration Projects: Collaborative research projects with international companies including TOTAL, SHELL, BOEING, SAMSUNG, SOLIX and Chinese enterprises such as Qingdao Huatong Group, Langyatai Group, Hanhe Group, Haizheng Group, Lukang Group.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

QIBEBT is a state-owned research institute that conducts applied research in bioenergy, bioprocess technology, and green materials. It develops and licenses proprietary single-cell Raman spectroscopy platforms (Ramanomics), bioinspired membrane separation technologies for heavy metal and lithium extraction, and advanced materials for energy storage. The institute generates revenue through government research funding, technology licensing, cooperative R&D with industrial partners, and spinout industrialization companies.

Product overview

Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) is a research institution under the Chinese Academy of Sciences offering a portfolio of advanced analytical and bioprocessing platforms. The core technology family includes Raman-based single-cell analysis systems (Ramanomics Instrument Series, FlowRACS, RACS-Seq, EasySort) for industrial biotechnology, precision medicine, and environmental applications. The iMAPS international consortium provides the Metaramanomics platform for microbiome profiling and cultivation. Specialized platforms include DCP for single-cell mammalian cell analysis, MAFST for antifungal testing, RPST for phage susceptibility, IMSCA for wastewater treatment microbes, and Process Ramanomics for fermentation monitoring. Materials innovations include bioinspired COF membranes for heavy metal extraction and carbon nitride membranes for lithium extraction. QIBEBT also develops advanced materials for energy storage including zero-strain cathode materials for all-solid-state batteries and all-polymer solar cell technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ramanomics Instrument Series
• Metaramanomics Platform
• iMAPS (in-situ Metabolic Atlas Projects @ Single-cell)
• DCP-Based Microfluidic Platform
• MAFST Platform (Multifeature Antifungal Susceptibility Testing)
• RPST (Ramanome-based Phage Susceptibility Test)
• Process Ramanomics Platform
• IMSCA Platform (In-situ Metabolism-driven Sorting, Culture and Augmentation)
• SDA (Static Droplet Array) Microfluidic Platform
• Carbon Nitride Membrane
• LTG0.25PSSe0.2 Cathode Material
• Bioinspired COF Membrane for Heavy Metal Extraction
• All-Polymer Solar Cell Technology

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University of California San Diego (Prof. Rob Knight)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2026Prof. Rob Knight co-leads the WMP-F working group with Prof. Xu Jian from QIBEBT. UC San Diego is a node in the iMAPS network, focusing on high-throughput single-cell Raman-activated cell sorting coupled to whole-genome sequencing.
• BoeingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2010Boeing and QIBEBT established a joint laboratory in May 2010 to accelerate microalgae-based research leading to sustainable aviation biofuels. First collaboration with international enterprise.
• The University of Hong Kong (HKU)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2010QIBEBT and HKU signed Memorandum of Understanding to consolidate cooperation, signed by Director General Prof. WANG Lisheng and Dean Prof. CHEW Weng Cho.
• Roquette GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2010Roquette Group's Corporation Research Director and North Asia Project Vice-Director visited to explore collaboration for high value-added products from microalgae and fine chemicals from cellulose.
• University of TwenteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2009Professor Van Der Meer and Doctor Lixian XU visited for academic exchange.
• University of Maryland (Center of Marine Biotechnology)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2008Prof. Zoharn from Center of Marine Biotechnology visited QIBEBT for academic exchange.
• ShellcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 2008Royal Dutch Shell plc signed contracts with QIBEBT and five other academic institutions in September 2008. Shell experts have regularly visited to investigate project progress. Multiple collaboration projects including 'Shell International Cooperation Projects'.
• TOTALmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTOTAL has established research collaborations with QIBEBT for bioenergy and bioprocess technology development.
• SAMSUNGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAMSUNG has established research collaborations with QIBEBT for biotechnology research and development.
• SOLIXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOLIX has established research collaborations with QIBEBT for algae-based bioenergy research.
• Western Australian UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research center established with Western Australian University for sustainable cooperation.
• Ruhr-University BochummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research center established with Ruhr-University Bochum in Germany.
• Chiang Mai UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research center established with Chiang Mai University in Thailand.
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelegates from PNNL and BP visited QIBEBT accompanied by CAS Shenyang Branch President.
• BPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelegates from BP and PNNL visited QIBEBT for collaboration discussions.
• Professor Rudolf K. ThauerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Academy of Sciences Member and Vice President of German Academy of Sciences visited and gave seminars on biomass and energy production.
• NovozymesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNovozymes (China) Investment Co. Ltd. visited QIBEBT for communication with associated researchers in May 2009.
• University of Cape Town (Dr. Emma Rocke)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Emma Rocke co-leads the WMP-F working group on Environmental Microbiomes and Climate Change.
• eCyte, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationiMAPS Initiative primarily based on seminal instruments invented by QIBEBT and eCyte, Inc.
• Imperial College LondonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetaramanomics platform at Imperial College London has been operating for over six months. Will host iMAPS Workshop with synthetic biology theme in March 2026.
• Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISSCAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized Soil iMAPS Symposium at WCSS 2026. Partner in Soil iMAPS platforms within CAS.
• Institute of Urban Environment (IUE), Chinese Academy of SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized Soil iMAPS Symposium at WCSS 2026. Partner in Soil iMAPS platforms within CAS.
• World Microbiome Partnership (WMP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMP announced launch of Environmental Microbiomes and Climate Change Working Group (WMP-F) co-led by Prof. Xu Jian. iMAPS consortium is one signature of WMP's action plan.
• University of JinanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-research with University of Jinan on antifungal susceptibility testing platform development.
• Peking Union Medical College HospitalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on antifungal susceptibility testing platform research.
• Fudan UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on antifungal susceptibility testing platform research.
• Tsinghua University (Prof. CHEN Guoqiang)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on process ramanomics platform development for industrial fermentation monitoring.
• Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on process ramanomics platform development for industrial fermentation.
• Beijing PhaBuilder Biotechnology Co., Ltd.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on process ramanomics platform development for industrial fermentation.
• Qingdao Single-Cell Biotech Co., Ltd.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on process ramanomics platform development for industrial fermentation.
• Qingdao University of Science and TechnologymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on IMSCA platform development for phosphorus-removing microbes research.
• Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on microfluidic platform for bloodstream infection diagnosis. Provided clinical E. coli isolate for validation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Joint Genome Institute (JGI, DOE): U.S. Department of Energy user facility for high-throughput genomics and microbiome science. Competes with QIBEBT's iMAPS in setting global reference data and infrastructure for environmental and industrial microbiome programs.
• Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology: A globally leading research institute for microbial ecology, marine microbiology, and biogeochemistry. Comparable scale and ambition in microbiome research, with overlapping methods (single-cell sorting, stable-isotope probing) targeting environmental and climate applications.
• BGI Group: China's largest genomics and single-cell services organization, with competing capabilities in single-cell omics, microbiome sequencing, and synthetic biology research services that overlap with Ramanomics/microbiome platforms.
• ETH Zurich Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE): European academic hub for single-cell genomics, microfluidics, and computational biology. Competes with QIBEBT in academic consortia and produces comparable single-cell-analysis IP and trained researchers.

Direct peers

• eCyte, Inc. U.S. instrument company co-developing the Raman-activated cell sorting instruments at the heart of QIBEBT's iMAPS infrastructure. Closely aligned technically and commercially with QIBEBT's single-cell platform roadmap.
• Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIAT): CAS institute with deep programs in biomedical engineering, single-cell analysis, and micro-biotech instrumentation. Overlaps with QIBEBT on microfluidics-based single-cell platforms and translational biomedical technologies.
• Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (TIB-CAS): A fellow CAS institute focused on industrial biotechnology, bio-based chemicals, and biocatalysis. TIB shares QIBEBT's mandate of translating biological R&D into industrial process technologies, with overlapping IP in fermentation, enzymatic conversion, and bioprocess engineering.
• Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (DICP): CAS's flagship chemistry/energy research institute with major programs in biofuels, catalysis, and energy materials. Strong overlap with QIBEBT in bioenergy, biomass conversion, and energy storage materials, often competing for the same national funding pool.

Regional players

• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Northern Europe's leading applied bioeconomy research institute, with comparable programs in industrial biotechnology, bio-based materials, and fermentation. Closest European functional analog to QIBEBT's bioenergy/bioprocess stack.

Emerging players

• Imperial College London (Single-Cell and Synthetic Biology Groups): Hosts one of the Metaramanomics satellite nodes and partners closely with QIBEBT on synthetic-biology research, giving it peer standing in UK single-cell initiatives while competing for the same talent and grants as QIBEBT.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/qibebt

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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