CIBE - Espol
CIBE is the biotechnology research center of ESPOL university in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Founded in 2003, it delivers specialized laboratory services, tissue culture propagation, disease diagnostics, biological control agents, and applied R&D to banana and cocoa producers, agroindustrial firms, and government partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersGuayaquil, Ecuador
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CIBE - Espol does
CIBE (Centro de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas del Ecuador) is the biotechnology research center of Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL), a public university in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Founded on January 14, 2003, it originated from the VLIR-ESPOL program (1999–2009) developed with Belgian universities including KU Leuven and Ghent. The center operates four R&D platforms — Tissue Culture, Bioproducts, Bioremediation, and Agricultural Techniques — and delivers specialized laboratory services to banana and cocoa producers, agroindustrial firms, food companies, and government entities such as MAATE, with selected research also extending to rice, palm, pitahaya, sugarcane, and Amazonian crops.
CIBE's underlying technology stack integrates tissue culture propagation, molecular biology and phytopathology, bioproducts development, and bioremediation around Ecuador's two principal export crops. Notable proprietary components include CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing for Fusarium Wilt resistance, RNAi-based biofungicides against Fusarium oxysporum and Black Sigatoka, a deep-learning mobile disease-diagnosis app for banana, nanopore 16S metagenomic sequencing for foodborne pathogens, and a commercial-scale pilot plant for biological control agent fermentation (endophytic fungi, Trichoderma). The center maintains an in vitro germplasm bank with 30+ banana and plantain accessions and Antarctic microorganism collections, and holds registered trade secrets plus a PCT patent application for enzymatic microcapsules for wastewater treatment.
CIBE generates revenue through a mix of contracted research services, custom biotechnological testing and diagnostics (molecular biology, tissue culture, post-harvest, bioproducts), licensing of microbial strains, and competitive non-reimbursable research grants from national and international sources (e.g., BID/EC-L1261, AGROCONEXIÓN). Pricing is quote-based via [email protected]. The go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven: direct engagement with enterprise agricultural clients, participation in sector forums, and visibility through scientific publications (44 in 2025) and international research networks (CYTED BIOALI, REBIN, REDU, CEDIA, FAO GM Foods Platform).
CIBE - Espol firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CIBE - Espol
- Legal name
- Centro de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas del Ecuador
- Website
- https://cibe.espol.edu.ec
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- CIBE is the biotechnology research center of ESPOL university in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Founded in 2003, it delivers specialized laboratory services, tissue culture propagation, disease diagnostics, biological control agents, and applied R&D to banana and cocoa producers, agroindustrial firms, and government partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CIBE - Espol industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Plant Propagation & Nursery CEA Equipment (Germination Rooms, Tissue Culture Support) (AFAAAHAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Biosecurity, Pest & Disease Control for CEA (IPM, Screening, Sanitation) (AFAAAHAK)
Keywords
Where CIBE - Espol is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Guayaquil
- HQ country
- Ecuador
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CIBE - Espol business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Research contracted services: CIBE generates revenue through contracted research and provision of specialized biotechnological services to agricultural producers, agribusiness companies, and the food industry. Services include molecular diagnostics, tissue culture, bioproducts testing, and post-harvest management. The center operates with 21 years of experience and offers customized solutions for particular agricultural and agroindustrial problems.
- Competitive/External research funding: CIBE captures external non-reimbursable financing through competitive funds from national and international sources (e.g., BID/EC-L1261, AGROCONEXIÓN program). Notable $250,000 project on banana ethanol processes. The center has been recognized as the institutional research center with the highest amount of non-reimbursable research funds.
- Licensing of biological strains: CIBE licenses the use of proprietary microbial strains (bacteria and fungi strains of low and high complexity) to third parties. Includes storage services for microorganisms in freezing and freeze-dried formats.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
CIBE - Espol product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CIBE (Centro de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas del Ecuador) is a biotechnology research center at ESPOL university providing specialized laboratory services to the agricultural and agro-industrial sectors. Its offerings are organized across four R&D platforms: Tissue Culture, Bioproducts, Bioremediation, and Agricultural Techniques, with deep specialization in Ecuador's banana and cocoa value chains. Services include molecular diagnostics, plant tissue culture propagation, germplasm conservation, biological control of crop diseases, bioproduct development, post-harvest management, and bioremediation.
Product overview
CIBE (Centro de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas del Ecuador) is a biotechnology research center affiliated with ESPOL university in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Founded in 2003, CIBE operates as a multi-service research platform organized into four main research platforms: PI-1 Biotechnology for Agriculture (encompassing Tissue Culture, Phytopathology, and Molecular Biology labs), and PI-2 Bioproducts and Bioprocesses (including Bioproducts, Bio-incubation, Bioremediation, and Agricultural Techniques areas). The center offers specialized laboratory services to the agricultural and agro-industrial sectors, including molecular diagnostics, plant tissue culture, germplasm banking, bioproduct development, and bioremediation solutions. Services are organized by crop specialization (rice, African palm, cocoa, sugarcane, pitahaya, banana) and by technical capability (plant health diagnostics, soil microbiology, microbial banks, natural products analysis, plant physiology, aquatic inputs, agricultural inputs, applied agricultural research, agro-industrial research, bioremediation research, and post-harvest management).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Plant Tissue Culture Services
Quantifiable outcome
- $250,000 in non-reimbursable external funding captured in 2024 through banana ethanol research project
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use CIBE - Espol
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CIBE - Espol technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature10 records
CIBE - Espol partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- CYTED BIOALI NetworkcoreCIBE participates as a key member of the CYTED 'BIOALI' (Biotecnología para fortalecer programas de mejora de especies de interés socioeconómico) network, together with fifteen public and private centers from 8 countries. The network aims to increase productivity of banana and cocoa breeding programs using new biotechnological tools through knowledge exchange between researchers and producers.
- Red Ecuatoriana de Bioinformática (REBIN)coreCIBE is part of the Ecuadorian Bioinformatics Network (REBIN), which provides computational infrastructure and expertise for bioinformatics analysis of genomic and metagenomic data generated by CIBE's research.
- Red Ecuatoriana de Biotecnología VegetalcoreCIBE participates in the Ecuadorian Plant Biotechnology Network, collaborating on plant biotechnology research and development initiatives.
- Red Ecuatoriana de Universidades y Escuelas Politécnicas de Investigación y Posgrados (REDU)coreCIBE participates in REDU with several projects including Papaya Virus Q research (led by Ph.D. Diego Quito), Trichoderma encapsulation for biological control (led by Ph.D. Daynet Sosa), functional beverage development from guayusa (led by Ph.D. Patricia Manzano), and metabolomic indicators in somaclonal variation (co-led by Ph.D. Daynet Sosa).
- CEDIA (Consorcio Ecuatoriano para el Desarrollo de Internet Avanzado)majorCIBE collaborates with CEDIA on two projects: (1) Development of omics and bioinformatics studies applied to NGS data analysis of pathogens affecting animal and plant production systems in Ecuador; (2) Strengthening food safety in Ecuador through contaminant studies and establishment of a national online training system. Won CEDIA AWARDS 2022 for Best University-Business Collaboration Project.
- FAO GM Foods PlatformminorFAO GM Foods Platform is an international platform to share information on safety assessment of foods derived from recombinant-DNA plants authorized in accordance with the Codex Plant Guideline. CIBE participates as a contributor to the platform.
- Red Internacional de BionanotecnologíaminorThe International Bionanotechnology Network focuses on multidisciplinary scientific collaboration to contribute to solving national and international strategic problems in biomedicine, food, and biosecurity. CIBE contributes to bionanotechnology research applications in agriculture.
- Stellenbosch University (South Africa)coreCIBE collaborates with Stellenbosch University in South Africa on the 'Priming Bananas with Biodiversity-Derived Technologies to Combat Fusarium Tropical Race 4' project (CIBE-7-2023), using microorganisms to develop innovative pathogen control technologies.
- Pennsylvania State University (USA)coreCIBE collaborates with Penn State University in the 'Priming Bananas with Biodiversity-Derived Technologies to Combat Fusarium Tropical Race 4' project, contributing expertise in microorganism-based pathogen control technologies.
- Ministerio del Ambiente, Agua y Transición Ecológica (MAATE)coreCIBE collaborates with MAATE on Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 prevention and environmental protection initiatives, including the 'Estrategia para Proteger la Producción de Banano del Ecuador del Fusarium Wilt R4T' and Galápagos Islands environmental research projects.
- VLIR-UOS (Flemish Interuniversity Council - Belgium)coreThe VLIR-ESPOL program (1999-2009) developed the foundation for CIBE's biotechnology research capabilities, with support from Belgian universities including KU Leuven, Université Libre de Bruxelles, and Ghent University. Founder Dr. Rony Swennen (KU Leuven) and Dr. Dominique Van Der Straeten (Ghent University) were instrumental in CIBE's establishment in 2003.
- SEBIOCAmajorSEBIOCA is a scientifically-based productive company that has received systematic transfer of CIBE's results, particularly in commercial vitroplant production of banana. CIBE developed propagation protocols for 30+ varieties and transferred technology to SEBIOCA for commercial production.
- RED RASAminorRED RASA focuses on the problem of agroindustrial subproducts and the need for new uses or technologies for their utilization. CIBE contributes expertise in bioremediation and waste valorization from agricultural processing.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CIBE - Espol competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT: International research organization focused on agricultural biodiversity and tropical crop improvement. Comparable in mission of using genetic diversity and biotechnology to improve tropical crop resilience and productivity, with global germplasm collection similar to CIBE's banana/plantain bank.
- CIRAD (Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement): French international agricultural research organization working on tropical and Mediterranean agriculture. Comparable as a major publicly-funded research entity with international tropical crop research including banana and cocoa biotechnology, with extensive Latin American partnerships.
- Embrapa (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária): Brazilian public agricultural research corporation, one of the largest tropical agricultural research organizations globally. Comparable as a publicly-funded agricultural research entity covering tropical crops including banana, with broad technology transfer mandate and significant IP commercialization track record.
Direct peers
- Agrosavia (Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria): Colombian agricultural research corporation conducting applied research across multiple crops including tropical commodities. Similar institutional model as a publicly-funded agricultural research provider with technology transfer mandate serving commercial producers in a comparable Andean economy.
- KeyGene: Netherlands-based agricultural biotech company specializing in crop improvement using molecular breeding and genomics. Comparable as a contract research organization offering molecular biology services, plant technology development, and proprietary trait platforms to breeding companies.
- Rahan Meristem: Israel-based plant biotechnology company specializing in tissue culture propagation and germplasm banking of fruit crops including banana and date palm. Directly comparable in tissue culture propagation services, clean planting material production, and disease-free germplasm banking.
- CATIE (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza): Latin American tropical agricultural research and graduate education center headquartered in Costa Rica. Comparable in mission and tropical crop focus including banana and cocoa research, biotechnology applications, and serving regional producer networks across Latin America.
- INIAP (Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias): Ecuador's national agricultural research institute conducting applied research on tropical crops including banana, cocoa, rice, and others. Most directly comparable peer as a domestic counterpart also working on Ecuadorian export crop challenges and providing technology transfer to producers.
Emerging players
- Tropic Biosciences: UK-based agricultural biotechnology company focused specifically on banana and coffee crop improvement using gene editing. Closest emerging commercial peer working on similar banana disease challenges (Fusarium TR4, Black Sigatoka) with a venture-backed commercial model.
- Pairwise: US-based agricultural biotechnology company using CRISPR gene editing for crop improvement in fruits, vegetables, and row crops. Comparable in applying gene editing platforms to agricultural challenges with a commercial product and licensing model contrasting with CIBE's grant-funded structure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CIBE - Espol social profiles
Digital presenceCIBE - Espol financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CIBE - Espol leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
CIBE - Espol funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CIBE - Espol M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CIBE - Espol
What does CIBE - Espol do?
CIBE (Centro de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas del Ecuador) is a biotechnology research center at ESPOL university providing specialized laboratory services to the agricultural and agro-industrial sectors. Its offerings are organized across four R&D platforms: Tissue Culture, Bioproducts, Bioremediation, and Agricultural Techniques, with deep specialization in Ecuador's banana and cocoa value chains. Services include molecular diagnostics, plant tissue culture propagation, germplasm conservation, biological control of crop diseases, bioproduct development, post-harvest management, and bioremediation.
Is CIBE - Espol a public or private company?
CIBE - Espol is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was CIBE - Espol founded?
CIBE - Espol was founded in 2003. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is CIBE - Espol based?
CIBE - Espol is headquartered in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in the Latin America region.
How does CIBE - Espol make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Research contracted services are the primary driver. The others are competitive/External research funding and licensing of biological strains.
Who are CIBE - Espol's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, CIRAD (Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement) and Embrapa (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária). Direct peers are Agrosavia (Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria), KeyGene, Rahan Meristem, CATIE (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza) and INIAP (Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias). Emerging players are Tropic Biosciences and Pairwise.
Does CIBE - Espol have an API?
No public API is recorded for CIBE - Espol.
What industry is CIBE - Espol in?
CIBE - Espol's product category is Agricultural Biotechnology Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAAAHAJ, Plant Propagation & Nursery CEA Equipment (Germination Rooms, Tissue Culture Support), with a secondary code of AFAAAHAK, Biosecurity, Pest & Disease Control for CEA (IPM, Screening, Sanitation). Its NAICS code is 11511 and its SIC code is 700.