PROMOFER

What PROMOFER does

PROMOFER is an EU-funded research and innovation project operating under grant agreement No101157239 from the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) and the European Union, focused on improving fermentation processes to produce two high-value biobased compounds: poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO). The project targets the full fermentation value chain, from upstream pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass (wheat straw, rice straw, olive tree pruning) and food industry waste, through acidogenic fermentation for volatile fatty acid production and metabolic engineering of producing microorganisms, to downstream purification of PHBV and 2,3-BDO. Coordinated by AIMPLAS in Valencia (Spain), PROMOFER brings together a consortium of 13 partners across 7 European countries, each contributing specialised capabilities: pilot-scale biorefining (CLAMBER/IRIAF), PHBV production in mixed cultures (Paques Biomaterials), pilot process development (BBEPP), metabolic engineering (UCD), lignocellulosic sugars and analytics (Celignis), biomaterial formulation (Novamont), biobased PU for textiles (Vegea), techno-economic and life cycle assessment (PDC), biomass supply (HellaBiom), dissemination (ETAM), and social acceptance analysis (We Right Click).

The project's outputs are three Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) circular bio-based products: PHBV-based geotextile nets for the agriculture sector, PHBV-based coated paper packaging for the packaging sector, and biobased polyurethanes derived from 2,3-BDO for technical textile applications in the fashion industry. The stated objective is to achieve optimal cascading use of bio-based feedstock with zero-waste and zero-pollution operations.

PROMOFER does not operate a commercial revenue model; it is a publicly funded collaborative research initiative with no pricing, no paying customers, and no distribution channels in the conventional sense. Dissemination and stakeholder engagement are conducted through a project website, social channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, X, YouTube), newsletters, industry events, and collaboration with the ECOSYSTEX community of practice. Funding flows from the CBE JU via grant agreement No101157239 and is allocated across consortium partners for research execution rather than commercial monetisation.

Name

PROMOFER

Legal name

PROMOFER

Website

https://promofer-project.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PROMOFER is an EU-funded research consortium (CBE JU grant No101157239) of 13 partners across 7 countries, coordinated by AIMPLAS, that improves fermentation processes to produce PHBV bioplastics and 2,3-butanediol from lignocellulosic biomass and food industry waste for geotextile, packaging, and textile applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biobased Materials Research

NAICS

Converted Paper Product Manufacturing (3222)

SIC

Converted Paper & Paperboard Prods (No Contaners/Boxes) (2670)

akta.pro primary industry

Bio-based Polymers & Bioplastics (e.g., PLA, PHA, bio-PE/PP/PET, PBS) (EUAAAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Enzymes & Industrial Biotechnology Inputs (Enzymes, Microbial Strains, Fermentation Aids) (EUAAAIAL), Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB), Biodegradable Agricultural Materials (mulch films, clips, twines) (IMAEAOAK), Biodegradable Packaging Materials (films, trays, foams) (IMAEAOAB)

Keywords

• Bioplastics research
• Fermentation processes
• Lignocellulosic biomass
• Biobased polymers
• Biorefinery development

Headquarters

HQ city

Valencia (Paterna)

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

PROMOFER is an EU-funded research project consortium (grant agreement No101157239) that develops and improves fermentation-based processes to produce two high-value biobased compounds—PHBV bioplastic and 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO)—from lignocellulosic biomass (wheat straw, rice straw, olive tree pruning) and food industry waste. It integrates upstream feedstock pre-treatment, VFA-producing acidogenic fermentation, metabolic engineering of microbial producers, and downstream purification to deliver biobased prototypes for agricultural geotextiles, coated paper packaging, and biobased polyurethanes for technical textiles.

Product overview

PROMOFER is an EU-funded research project (grant agreement No101157239) coordinated by AIMPLAS, involving 13 partners across 7 European countries. The project focuses on improving fermentation processes to produce two main biobased compounds: Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) bioplastics and 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO). These compounds are produced from two feedstock types: lignocellulosic biomass (wheat straw, rice straw, olive tree pruning) and food industry waste. PHBV is converted into geotextile nets for agriculture and coated paper packaging, while 2,3-BDO serves as a building block for biobased polyurethanes used in technical textiles for the fashion industry. The project aims to achieve zero-waste and zero-pollution operations through optimal cascading use of bio-based feedstock.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PHBV Bioplastic (Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)) A flexible biodegradable and biobased polymer with higher thermal and mechanical properties than PHB, produced through fermentation processes using agri-food waste streams and lignocellulosic biomass. Targeted at industrial buyers in the bioplastics value chain.
• 2,3-Butanediol (2,3-BDO) A chemical compound with high demand across applications including printing inks, perfumes, fumigants, moistening agents, and softening agents, obtained by fermentation and used as a starting material for biobased polyurethanes. Targeted at chemical industry buyers.
• Biobased Polyurethanes (PU) Biobased polyurethanes produced from 2,3-butanediol obtained through fermentation, used for technical textile applications in the fashion industry. Targeted at textile and fashion industry buyers.
• PHBV-based Geotextile Nets Geotextile net applications for the agriculture sector, made from PHBV bioplastic for biodegradable ground cover and soil erosion control. Targeted at agricultural input buyers.
• PHBV-based Coated Paper Packaging Coated paper packaging applications for the packaging sector, utilizing PHBV bioplastic as a biodegradable coating material. Targeted at packaging industry buyers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 SSbD circular bio-based products demonstrated: PHBV-based geotextile nets, PHBV-based coated paper packaging, and bio-based PU from 2,3-BDO for technical textiles
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• AIMPLAS – Asociación de Investigación de Materiales Plásticos y ConexascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIMPLAS is the technical and management coordinator of the PROMOFER project. It leads WP1 & WP4, handling isolation of microorganisms and characterization, optimization of hydrolyzate culture conditions to maximize 2,3-BDO production, improvement of PHBV extraction and purification, end-of-life validation, and SSbD assessment. AIMPLAS is a technology centre with over 30 years of experience in the plastic sector, recently focused on bioplastics.
• IRIAF – Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal de Castilla-La ManchacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRIAF, through its CLAMBER R&D Biorefinery, handles lab-scale optimisation and demo-scale validation of VFA production from liquid agrifood side streams, VFA accumulation into PHVB, and PHVB extraction. CLAMBER is a public demonstrative scale biorefinery dedicated to scientific research and development of processes from lignocellulosic and fermentable biomass.
• GEACAM – Gestión Ambiental de Castilla-La Mancha SAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGEACAM acts as an affiliated party of IRIAF, managing personnel executing the project at the CLAMBER R&D&i Biorefinery. It is a state-owned enterprise providing comprehensive environmental management services including forest fire prevention, waste management, and territorial development in Castilla-La Mancha.
• Paques BiomaterialscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaques Biomaterials produces PHBV in mixed cultures using residual streams from the agri-food industry. It has developed a technology for microbes to produce PHA biopolymers from organic residual streams without genetic modification and without fossil-based feedstocks, creating a circular chain for natural alternatives to plastic.
• Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBEPP leads WP5 'Improvement of the downstream process to produce PHBV and 2,3-BDO'. It is an independent, state-of-the-art facility for process development, scale-up, and custom manufacturing of biobased products from laboratory to multi-ton scale, enabling conversion of renewable feedstocks using technologies including biomass pretreatment, biocatalysis, fermentation, and product recovery.
• University College Dublin (UCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCD leads WP3 and uses its expertise to design and improve microbial biocatalysts to produce PHBV and 2,3-BDO. It metabolically engineers target microorganisms to balance metabolic requirements and improve yield when biomass or VFAs are used. UCD has extensive experience in EU Research and Innovation projects and expertise in metabolic engineering and bioprocess design.
• Celignis LimitedsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCelignis provides lignocellulosic sugars to project partners for subsequent fermentations, involving development and optimisation of pretreatment and hydrolysis processes at Celignis Bioprocess. It also undertakes detailed characterization of solid and liquid inputs/outputs at each process node via Celignis Analytical, advancing its bioprocessing capabilities from TRL5 to TRL7 (m3 scale).
• Novamont S.p.A.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNovamont valorizes polymers obtained from lignocellulosic biomass and food industry byproducts into biomaterial formulations with application in agricultural and paper packaging. Novamont is a Versalis (Eni) company and Benefit Company certified B Corporation, among the leading international players in bioplastics with 13 proprietary technologies, 4 world firsts, and manufacturing facilities in Italy and Estonia.
• Vegea SrlsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVegea carries out physico-chemical analysis of the 2,3-BDO produced in the project and validates it as a cross-linking agent for PU for the production of biobased technical textiles. Founded in 2016, Vegea specializes in formulation and coating of innovative biobased PU and PVC with high percentages of vegetable-origin raw materials, serving the fashion, automotive, and furniture sectors.
• Stichting PDC Research Foundation (PDC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDC performs conceptual process design of different fermentation and downstream separation processes using its unique PROSYN expert system. It assesses economic feasibility including life cycle costing (LCC), and defines and quantifies environmental effects via life cycle analysis (LCA). PROSYN has achieved up to 50% capital and operating cost savings in industrial projects.
• HellaBiom – Hellenic Biomass Association (ΕΛΕΑΒΙΟΜ)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHellaBiom coordinates the collection and initial pre-treatment (mechanical size reduction) of lignocellulosic biomass from agricultural residues (wheat straw, rice straw, and olive tree pruning) through its nationwide network of farmers and agricultural co-operatives. It also studies and implements the concept of 'Green Biomass Points/Hubs'. HellaBiom is a non-profit and one of the prime renewable energy associations in Greece.
• ETAM SA – Consulting ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerETAM leads WP8 Dissemination, Communication, Exploitation and Market Update. Founded in 1993 and based in Heraklion, Greece, ETAM is a development planning and business consulting company employing 23 multidisciplinary experts. It is certified with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 27001:2013, ISO 27701:2019, and ISO 37001:2017, with a track record of over 700 projects since 1993.
• We Right ClicksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWe Right Click (Right-Click), based in France, analyzes and supports the social acceptance of circular bio-based products through a Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA). It is a non-profit association promoting social innovation and empowerment through co-creation, education, and behavior change, operating citizen labs and urban hubs.
• ECOSYSTEX – European Community of Practice for a Sustainable Textile EcosystemsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerECOSYSTEX is the European Community of Practice dedicated to advancing sustainability, circularity, and resilience across the textile and fashion ecosystem. Formally launched in early 2023, it brings together EU-funded projects, industry stakeholders, research organisations, and innovation actors to foster knowledge exchange and cross-project collaboration. Supported by the European Commission's Horizon Europe programme and CBE JU, and facilitated by the Textile European Technology Platform (Textile ETP).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NatureWorks: World's largest PLA producer (Ingeo brand), owned by Cargill/ADM/GCJ. Competes head-to-head with PHBV for bio-based packaging and textile applications and represents the incumbent benchmark PROMOFER's outputs must beat on cost-performance.
• Novamont: Italy-based bioplastics leader (Versalis/Eni subsidiary, B-Corp) and a core PROMOFER partner. Novamont is the most direct commercialization peer, already producing MATER-BI bioplastics at industrial scale and validating PHBV-based formulations for agricultural and packaging applications within PROMOFER.
• TotalEnergies Corbion: Joint venture between TotalEnergies and Corbion producing Luminy PLA at industrial scale in Thailand. Established alternative to PROMOFER's PHBV in single-use packaging, coated paper, and fiber applications.

Direct peers

• Danimer Scientific: US-based PHA (Nodax PHA) producer using plant oils and is targeting compostable packaging and coatings. Most direct commercial PHBV/PHA competitor with publicly traded equity, providing benchmark for PHA commercialization economics.
• Paques Biomaterials: Netherlands-based commercial PHBV producer using mixed microbial cultures and agri-food side streams — directly aligned with PROMOFER's technology and a core consortium partner. Closest functional peer in the PHBV-from-waste space.
• Kaneka: Japanese chemical company producing PHBH (a PHA copolymer closely related to PHBV) under the AONILEX brand at >5,000 tpa. Competes directly in biodegradable packaging and agricultural mulch film markets targeted by PROMOFER.
• TianAn Biopolymers: Chinese PHBV/PLA producer (Enmat brand) with established agricultural mulch film and packaging customer base — a direct international competitor to PROMOFER's target applications in PHBV-based geotextiles and packaging.

Emerging players

• Newlight Technologies: US-based PHA producer (AirCarbon) using methane-consuming microorganisms. Competes in the same bio-based plastics space as PROMOFER and offers a benchmark for non-lignocellulosic PHA production economics.
• RWDC Industries: Singapore/US-based PHA producer (formerly known for Solon) scaling PHA from plant oils and waste feedstocks, targeting packaging and coatings — the same application spaces PROMOFER's PHBV outputs address.

Others

• Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP): Belgium-based open-access pilot facility for bio-based process scale-up and a core PROMOFER partner. While not a direct competitor, BBEPP is a relevant infrastructure peer for any team evaluating bio-based process scale-up and custom manufacturing services in Europe.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/promoferproject
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@PROMOFERproject
• Facebookfacebook.com/promofer.project
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/promofer-project

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about PROMOFER