On 25 September 2024, delegates from the Finnish Embassy in Thailand, led by Mr. Kimmo Pekari, Special Advisor, along with Mr. Anssi Rantasalo and Mr. Hikki Keskitalo, co-founders of Enifer Company, Finland, visited the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), under the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). They met with Dr. Kobkul Laoteng, Acting Deputy Executive Director of BIOTEC, and researchers from the Biochemical Engineering and Systems Biology Research Group, Biorefinery and Bioproduct Technology Research Group (IBBG) and BIOTEC Bioprocessing Facility (BBF), to discuss potential collaboration in biorefinery technology, including strain engineering and bioprocessing technology, as well as translational research facility at EECi.
BIOTEC’s Biorefinery and Bioproduct Technology Research Group (IBBG)’s mission is to exploit the use of microbial resources of the country for potential biotechnology and health applications and to utilize biotechnology to increase the value of commercial products, such as food and feed, enzyme products, drug and bioactive compounds and biocontrol agents. IBBG also focuses on the conversion of agricultural biomass using multi-disciplinary approaches to high value chemicals, fuels and products for industrial, agricultural and medical applications.
BIOTEC Bioprocessing Facility (BBF) is a food-grade manufacturer certified Codex GHPs and HACCP. It adheres to the guidelines of Good Industrial Large Scale Practice or GILSP for utilizing microorganisms at the LS1 containment level. This facility supports the microbial production by both wild type and genetically modified strains, including bacteria, yeast, and fungi, throughout the entire upstream and downstream processes from the development of the culture media, precision fermentation process, product harvesting, concentration or purification, drying, formulation of products, product analysis, quality and shelf-life control, including product registration.