Minister of Science Clemens Hoch presents funding approval for new research project

As part of the “Biotech Fellows International” call for proposals, BioVT will receive €200,000 in funding over two years. Minister of Science Clemens Hoch personally presented the funding approval on September 4 at the Ministry of Science and Health in Mainz.

The production of bioactive metabolites is essential for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Plant cell cultures offer a sustainable alternative to conventional production methods, as they deliver consistent quality regardless of seasonal and geographical conditions. This project focuses on the cultivation of Ocimum basilicum (basil), which produces antiviral, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory triterpenoids such as oleanolic acid and ursolic acid. The aim is to develop efficient bioprocesses to increase production capacity through innovative aerosol-based reactor systems. This technology minimizes mechanical stress on the cells, improves CO₂ supply, and enables scalable cultivation. The project is researching elicitor-controlled processes to specifically optimize biosynthesis. In addition, the long-term stability and industrial scalability of the production systems will be investigated. The cooperation between RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau and Tanta University (Egypt) combines biotechnological expertise with natural product chemical analysis. Research stays, workshops, and scientific publications are planned to raise international awareness of the developed processes. The results should contribute to the sustainable production of active pharmaceutical ingredients and enable the economic use of plant cell cultures.

Further information about the project can be found here.

Further information about the call “Biotech Fellows International” can be found here (information only available in German).