Bioref

What Bioref does

Bioref (legal name: Associação para as Biorrefinarias, operating as CoLAB BIOREF — Collaborative Laboratory for Biorefineries) is a private non-profit collaborative laboratory founded in 2019 and headquartered in São Mamede de Infesta, Portugal. It is structured as a member-based association comprising 23 organisations — 10 academic institutions and 13 companies spanning energy majors, utilities, forest research, waste management, and gas distribution. Bioref delivers three core service lines: Consultancy (technical assistance, innovation, and scaling of green technologies at TRL>4), Operations and Modeling (process simulation, integration and pre-engineering of biorefinery processes), and Studies (market analyses, techno-economic feasibility analyses, biomass potential assessment, and life-cycle analyses).

Its technology stack spans biochemical routes (anaerobic digestion, fermentation, biological methanation) and thermochemical routes (pyrolysis, gasification, hydrothermal liquefaction) for converting agricultural waste, forestry residues, marine biomass, and industrial effluents into advanced biofuels, biomethane, renewable gases, biochar, and other bioproducts. Process simulation, modelling, resource mapping, and Power-to-X concepts complete the technical offering, and Bioref is the entity formally responsible for elaborating Portugal's National Biomethane Action Plan 2024-2040.

Bioref's revenue mechanics are predominantly grant-funded: cumulative project flows include HYFUELUP (Horizon Europe, consortium total €11.57M, BIOREF share €3.59M), H2DRIVEN (€247.66M consortium, €1.57M BIOREF), Move2LowC (€8.27M consortium, €270K BIOREF), Moving2Neutrality agenda (€526.88M, €578M investment, 502-600 jobs), ICARUS (€3.16M, €263K BIOREF), PYRAGRAF (€6.05M, €605K BIOREF), plus Missão Interface base funding of €2.3M through 31/03/2026 and a 2025 COMPETE 2030 Renewable Gases project (€388K). Customer segments include industrial companies in bioenergy and bioeconomy (primary), academic and research institutions, and government/public-sector entities involved in decarbonisation policy. Distribution is relationship-based — direct technical-scientific consultancy through the 23-member network — with no consumer-facing pricing; eligibility for Portugal's SIFIDE tax incentive (via SCTN membership) provides indirect commercial leverage.

Name

Bioref

Legal name

Associação para as Biorrefinarias

Website

https://bioref-colab.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bioref (CoLAB BIOREF) is a Portuguese non-profit collaborative laboratory providing consultancy, process simulation, and techno-economic studies in biorefinery technologies for industrial, academic, and public-sector clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biorefinery & Bioenergy R&D Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Biofuels & Renewable Fuels Switching (Biomethane/RNG, Bio-oils, Sustainable Biomass) (EUABAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bio-based Platform & Commodity Chemicals (e.g., bio-ethylene, bio-propylene, bio-BTX, bio-methanol) (EUAAAIAA), Biorefinery Co-product Recovery, Purification & Separation (Downstream Processing Systems) (EUAAAIAN), Biofuel Upgrading, Hydrotreating & Refining (Co-processing, Isomerization) (EUAAAHAG)

Keywords

• Biorefinery research services
• Bioenergy technical consulting
• Biomass conversion technologies
• Renewable gas development
• Techno-economic feasibility studies

Headquarters

HQ city

São Mamede De Infesta

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CoLAB BIOREF provides technical consultancy, process simulation and modelling, and market and techno-economic studies for biorefineries, enabling companies and public entities to scale up biochemical and thermochemical biomass conversion technologies (TRL>4) into bioenergy, biofuels, renewable gases (biomethane, e-methanol, methanol) and value-added bioproducts. The organization acts as a collaborative laboratory bridging 10 academic institutions and 13 industrial partners to translate research into applied bioeconomy solutions.

Product overview

Bioref is a private non-profit collaborative laboratory (CoLAB) for biorefineries that offers three core consulting services: Consultancy (technical assistance, innovation, and scaling up of green/sustainable technologies at TRL>4), Operations and Modeling (simulation, modelling, integration and pre-engineering of biorefinery processes), and Studies (biorefinery market analyses and technical-economic studies). The organization focuses on bioenergy and renewable gases, and sustainable bioeconomy research. Bioref is part of the National Scientific and Technological System (SCTN), making expenses related to service provision eligible for SIFIDE tax incentives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Consultancy Technical consultancy service providing assistance, innovation, and scaling up of green (sustainable) technologies at TRL>4 to support the development, validation, and implementation of advanced biorefinery solutions for companies and public entities.
• Operations and Modeling Process simulation, modelling, integration and pre-engineering of biorefinery processes, delivering customised solutions for the valorization of production chains and the assessment of technical, energy and environmental performance.
• Studies Biorefinery market and technical-economic analyses including biomass potential assessment, environmental and social sustainability evaluation, techno-economic and life-cycle analyses, and market studies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Biomethane replacing ~9% of natural gas consumption in Portugal by 2030 and ~19% by 2040, reducing natural gas imports by ~€135M by 2030 and ~€278M by 2040
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LNEG – Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, I.P.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLNEG is a national laboratory and a founding member of CoLAB BIOREF. It hosts the Unit of Bioenergy and the national Biomass and Bioenergy Research Infrastructure (BBRI). LNEG's UB contributes to biochemical and thermochemical processes for advanced biofuels, chemicals and bio-based materials. Francisco Manuel Ferreira Gírio from LNEG serves as President of the Management Board.
• Universidade Nova de LisboacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNL is represented by Isabel Cristina de Almeida Pereira Rocha on the Management Board. UNL contributes expertise in green technologies for resource recovery, waste valorisation, and development of cell factories from computational and wet-lab perspectives, including metabolic engineering, membrane technologies and enzyme engineering.
• A4F – ALGAFUEL, S.A.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA4F operates the world's largest tubular photobioreactor microalgae production unit (ALGAFARM: 1300 m3, 1 ha, €12M in Pataias, Portugal). It contributes algae biomass activities from culturing to harvesting and valorisation through downstream processing and biorefining. Vitor Coelho represents A4F on the Management Board.
• RAIZ – Forest and Paper Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAIZ contributes knowledge on advanced technological solutions for biomass valorization, biomass availability in Portuguese forest, deconstruction processes, aptitude for hydrolysis and conversion, high value-added products from sugars, lignin and extracts, and technical-economical evaluation of value chains.
• DOUROGÁS RENOVÁVEL, S.A.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOUROGÁS Renovável was the first company to produce biomethane in Portugal for the GNV market. It operates a full biomethane filling station in Urjais, Mirandela, capable of producing 50 Nm3/h. Nuno Paulo Correia e Afonso Moreira serves as Vice-President of the Management Board.
• PETROGAL S.A. – Petróleos de Portugal (GALP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPETROGAL (GALP) is a major Portuguese energy company represented by Marco Ferraz on the Management Board. It is the leader of the Moving2Neutrality agenda, contributing to production of green H2 and green fuels for transport.
• Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre (IPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPP contributes through VALORIZA Research Centre with expertise in waste recovery technologies, process numerical and analytical tools, and hydrogen as an energy vector. It led the PYRAGRAF project consortium. Paulo Sérgio Duque de Brito represents IPP on the Management Board.
• Instituto Superior Técnico – University of Lisbon (IST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIST contributes through iBB-IDMEC and INESC-ID institutes with expertise in yeast strain development, advanced bioprocesses for bio-based chemicals, biomass pyrolysis, gasification, and artificial intelligence applications in bioeconomy.
• LiporcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLipor is a waste management company providing expertise in waste-derived biomass resources and their valorisation in biorefineries. It is one of the newer associates having joined in 2024.
• PriominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrio is a renewable energy company and one of the newer associates of CoLAB BIOREF (joined in 2024).
• Portgás (REN Portgás)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortgás (part of REN group) is a natural gas distribution company and one of the newer associates of CoLAB BIOREF (joined in 2024).
• SYSADVANCE – Sistemas de Engenharia S.A.coreTechnology or IntegrationSYSADVANCE specializes in biomethane upgrading and purification, methanation, VPSA/VSA technology, biogas pre-treatment, and recovery of added-value gas compounds from biorefinery by-product streams. Developed first biogas plant from urban waste in Portugal.
• Tratolixo – Tratamento de Resíduos Sólidos, EIM, S.A.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTratolixo has almost 30 years of waste management experience and operates an Anaerobic Digestion Plant with 75,000 tpy biological treatment capacity — the largest in Portugal. Receives over 400,000 tpy of MSW and contributes to biomass feedstock availability assessment.
• A4F – ALGAFUEL, S.A. (European Projects)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA4F leads the Move2LowC project consortium, focusing on biofuel production from marine biomass (microalgae), residual forest biomass and industrial effluents within a circular economy concept, targeting TRL 6 technologies.
• European Biogas Association (EBA)minorOthersCoLAB BIOREF became a member of EBA, participating in European Biogas Conference and contributing to discussions on biomethane market growth toward 35 bcm by 2030 under REPowerEU plan.
• EERA BioenergyminorOthersCoLAB BIOREF became an associate member of EERA Bioenergy (European Energy Research Alliance), contributing to research coordination in bioenergy at European level.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SINTEF: SINTEF is Norway's largest independent applied research institute with significant biorefinery, biofuels and process intensification programs. Comparable in mission, consortium model, and bioprocessing/decarbonization focus.
• VITO: VITO is the Flemish Institute for Technological Research, with significant sustainable chemistry, bioeconomy and biorefinery activities. Comparable in European public applied-research model and bioeconomy policy support work.
• RISE Research Institutes of Sweden: RISE is Sweden's state-owned applied research organization with biorefinery, bio-based chemicals and biomass conversion divisions. Comparable in consortium-driven applied bioeconomy research and public-mission governance.
• Wageningen Food & Biobased Research: Wageningen University & Research's Food & Biobased Research institute conducts applied biorefinery and bio-based products research. Comparable to BIOREF for its bridging of academia, industry and government in the bioeconomy domain.
• IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN): IFPEN is France's public R&D organization for energy, including biofuels, bio-based products and process intensification. Comparable to BIOREF in covering both biochemical and thermochemical conversion routes and in delivering consortium-led EU projects.
• Fraunhofer IGB: Fraunhofer IGB conducts applied R&D in bioprocess engineering, industrial biotechnology, and biorefinery. Comparable to BIOREF for its biochemical/thermochemical conversion expertise and its industry-partnered research consortium structure.
• TNO (Energy Transition unit, formerly ECN): TNO's Energy Transition unit (incorporating the former ECN) is a major Dutch applied research organization focused on bioenergy, biomass conversion and sustainable fuels. Closely parallels BIOREF in scope and public-private research delivery model.
• CENER (National Renewable Energy Centre): CENER is Spain's national renewable energy research center with strong bioenergy and biomass programs. Highly comparable to BIOREF as a Southern-European national bioenergy research hub working with industry on biomass-to-fuel pathways.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: VTT is a leading European applied research organization with extensive biorefinery, bioenergy and biomass conversion programs. Highly comparable to BIOREF in mission (applied R&D bridging academia and industry for the bioeconomy) and funding model (public/multi-stakeholder).

Emerging players

• BTG Biomass Technology Group: BTG is a private technology company specializing in fast pyrolysis and biomass-to-liquid technologies. Comparable to BIOREF for its thermochemical conversion focus, but operates as a commercial technology provider rather than a non-profit consortium.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colabbioref

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bioref