Creator of biosourced 100% molecules of interest for the cosmetics and fine chemicals sectors
After 15 years of research in ecological chemistry within the ChimEco laboratory, Prof. Claude Grison joined forces with Technofounders to create BioInspir in 2020, with the aim of commercialising the production of biosourced and natural molecules for the cosmetics and fine chemicals sectors.
BioInspir selects certain plant species capable of biosorbing metals contained in natural or industrial effluents. The use of these plants makes it possible to create filters to capture the metals, and from these, to design ecocatalysts used for the soft synthesis of high added value products.
Today, the company has a library of molecules that evolves day by day. New molecules are developed every week, either on a contract basis for clients or on molecules with a high stake for numerous companies.
After securing nearly €1 million in funding in September 2020, BioInspir is developing its molecule library and preparing to scale up to kilo-lab size.
Press release:
BIOINSPIR accelerates its growth and secures nearly €1 million in financingMontpellier, 9 September 2020 - The result of 15 years of research by Claude Grison and the ChimEco laboratory, Bioinspir synthesises molecules for fine chemistry from its unique ecocatalysis platform. Only a few months after its creation, the deeptech start-up has secured nearly €1 million in funding to support its first commercial phase. In recent weeks, the start-up has completed a financing round with TechnoFounders Participations, was a winner of the i-Nov innovation competition and was awarded the French Tech Emergence grant. All announcements and information from the press release here
A spin-off from the ChimEco laboratory at the University of Montpellier, the start-up Bioinspir has developed a plant-based filter to capture metals in polluted water. Designed from invasive aquatic plants, it can then be reused for other applications. Discussions are underway with chemical companies. Suite.
Ecocatalysis, an ecological revolution and green economy ? Claude Grison | TEDxParisSalon
Claude Grison explains Bioinspir at the Biomim'expo digital week 2020
River Whale, the waste collector for river cleaning and ocean protection
H2OPE has developed a innovative solution for waste collection in the waterbased on the principle of a network of collectors capable of retain the waste circulating on along rivers.
After a detailed study phase, H2OPE places its waste collectors at strategic points in the watercourse where drifting or semi-submerged objects are likely to accumulate, similar to natural logjams. They are then recovered to integrate recycling and reuse circuits.
The Alsatian start-up specialising in river cleaning conducted a successful experiment in 2019. It now wants to deploy its solution on all of Strasbourg's waterways, as well as in other cities. More ...
Thierry Dutoit is a research director at the CNRS within the Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et Ecologie (IMBE), of which he is deputy director. His research focuses on coexistence processes and assembly rules in Mediterranean herbaceous plant communities.
Thierry Dutoit is particularly interested in the impacts of anthropogenic disturbances over the very long term via approaches that combine paleoecology and historical ecology. The results of his work are applied to ecological restoration or ecosystem rehabilitation, particularly via bio-inspiration, which involves the management of certain key species known as "ecosystem engineers", from bacteria to large herbivores.
In August 2009, a ruptured oil pipeline in the Crau plain in the Bouches-du-Rhône department caused hydrocarbon pollution in the heart of a national nature reserve. There, for the first time in the world, we experimented with the transplantation of harvester ant founding queens to accelerate the restoration of the soil and vegetation on the land that had been rehabilitated. Eight years later, our results show that this operation has really made it possible to increase soil fertility and accelerate the return of the steppe-like vegetation, unique in the world, which pre-existed where ant nests are present, thus making it possible to validate this bio-inspired process on an operational ecological engineering scale.
Useful resources and links :
Videos :
Report in the series Nature=Future / "Agronomic ants" / December 2019 /
The AlgoSource group, a recognised world expert in microalgae, offers a complete range of services from production engineering to the industrial valorisation of microalgae. Its unique know-how covers all the processes involved in the production and transformation of microalgae and provides an integrated vision for its industrial clients.
AlgoSource is developing 4 main areas for its industrial clients and consumers:
Production of microalgae in controlled systems (photobioreactors)
Biorefinery engineering (custom extraction of molecules)
Production and sale of natural products "made in France" (see our Alpha Biotech shop)
Integrated system design (design of photobioreactors from 1 litre to several m3)
The Bio-inspired Chemistry and Ecological Innovations laboratory, known as ChimEco, brings together researchers and engineers from the CNRS and a teacher-researcher from the University of Montpellier. As its activities are highly valued by industry, half of the researchers are financed by industrial contracts. The ChimEco laboratory is located in the Cap Delta business centre in the Montpellier agglomeration, in the heart of the Euromedicine park biopole.
The ambitions of the ChimEco laboratory are to develop an interdisciplinary approach to global ecology as a vector for sustainable development.
The unusual combination of phytotechnologies adapted to pollution, the ecological rehabilitation of degraded sites and the valorisation of these processes by an innovative and bio-inspired green chemistry, ecocatalysis, must contribute to the development of the current scientific, economic and environmental priorities of ecological innovation.
Claude Grison's speech at Biomim'expo 2017 :
The film Nature=Future:
TEDx 2015 :
Klorane Botanical Foundation - Mint, a plant that cleanses water:
At ENGIE, we are convinced that the development of renewable energies and infrastructures will only be possible if the environment is respected. This natural capital, just like our human, financial, material or immaterial capital, is therefore just as important in preserving our capacity for action and maintaining our sustainability.
Biomimicry is thus one of the keys to our strategy. With it, we show our desire to better understand and involve living things in our thinking in order to bring out solutions that are not only sustainable, but also regenerative, to create the conditions for a desirable future for all.
This year again, we are supporting the Biomim'Challenge, a competition open to all projects that have one thing in common: integrating the biomimetic approach into their discipline (architecture, design, materials, agriculture, chemistry, energy, health, human resources, city, etc.).
This partnership with Biomim'Expo and the Biomim'Challenge gives resonance and meaning to our raison d'être.
Some examples of research projects and achievements in the field of biomimicry at ENGIE:
Climate change and the depletion of natural resources are inviting us every day to rethink our relationship with nature. Biomimicry is a resource that we are investing in very seriously to respond to this environmental emergency and meet the needs of our businesses.
Bioscyance: a project to use biopolymers in the treatment of industrial and urban water
Elengy, a subsidiary of ENGIE, and the ENGIE Lab Crigen research centre, have developed an original and eco-responsible "biotech" solution. The solution lies in the use of biopolymer to limit the development of any living organism on the surfaces of installations immersed in water (e.g. concrete, resin, stainless steel, etc.). This biomolecule is harmless to nature and entirely biodegradable: 70% of biopolymers are degraded in fifteen days. For more information: https://innovation.engie.com/fr/trophees-de-l-innovation/bioscyance–le-traitement-bio-des-eaux-industrielles-et-urbaines/4583
The intervention of Marianne Gallardo at Biomim'expo 2018 to present Bioscyance :
Ecotone is an 82,000 m² real estate project developed on the Arcueil site. Winner of the "Inventons la Métropole du Grand Paris" competition, Ecotone places biomimicry at the heart of the building's architectural structure by creating a living skin. The walls function like a double skin: they adapt to temperature variations and optimise the building's energy consumption. The Compagnie de Phalsbourg, the project owner, and ENGIE Lab Crigen are including Ecotone in a low-carbon approach, in particular by facilitating the recovery of hot waste water, the installation of solar panels and the installation of urban wind turbines. https://www.engie.com/innovation-transition-energetique/centres-de-recherche/crigen/
Wind turbines: acoustic innovation and biomimicry
Vigilant about the real impacts after construction of wind farms and the feelings of local residents during operation, ENGIE Green has developed an acoustic innovation inspired by nature, which consists of fitting the blades of wind turbines with "serrations" that imitate the wings of an owl. This nocturnal bird of prey, which hunts by hearing, seeks silent flight. This technology has resulted in a significant reduction in noise without affecting the production of the wind farm. https://projet-eolien-quillien.fr/innovation-acoustique-et-biomimetisme/
A podcast to rethink our relationship with nature
At a time when our lifestyle and consumption patterns are endangering the environment, it is time to look again to nature as a source of inspiration and innovation, thanks to biomimicry. What lessons can we learn from the functioning of living organisms? How can we reproduce natural structures in materials? How can we reintegrate the water cycle into our urban ecosystems? And above all, how can we place biomimicry at the heart of R&D strategies? https://shows.pippa.io/the-good-galaxy/episodes/repenser-notre-rapport-a-la-nature
ABOUT ENGIE
Our raison d'être is to act to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral economy, through more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions. This raison d'être brings us together with our 170,000 employees, our customers and our shareholders and reconciles economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet. Our action is to be appreciated in its entirety and over the long term.
Turnover in 2019: €60 billion. Listed in Paris and Brussels (ENGI), the Group is represented in the main financial (CAC 40, DJ Euro Stoxx 50, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop 100, MSCI Europe) and extra-financial (DJSI World, DJSI Europe and Euronext Vigeo Eiris - World 120, Eurozone 120, Europe 120, France 20, CAC 40 Governance) indices.
We design tailored and competitive environmental technologies, starting with the development of an innovative soil remediation solution: mycoremediation. We provide an ecological solution for the remediation of contaminated industrial soils. Providing an alternative to physical, chemical and thermal soil treatments, our technology broadens the scope and efficacy of existing bioremediation solutions to the treatment of the most recalcitrant pollutants. As biomimicry professionals, we raise awareness about nature-based innovations to inspire, guide and help organizations achieve their strategic sustainability innovation goals.
WHAT WE OFFER
BIOREMEDIATION SERVICES : Personalized solutions for the soil treatment of recalcitrant contaminants and for other waste streams.
BIOMIMICRY CONSULTING: Sustainability awareness and innovation guidance through the biomimetic lense.
OUR VALUES & OUR DRIVERS
We are convinced that life on earth is the greatest possible source of inspiration and an infinite library of smart solutions. Our ambition is to contribute to solving current environmental and societal challenges by developing bio-inspired restorative innovations.
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