Bio-Gate AG

Fraunhofer Venture

Conquering the world with micro structures made in Franconia

Bio-Gate 

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Following this motto, a small group of researchers from Erlangen founded their own company in 2000 to market their development with the technical support of Fraunhofer Venture. In the end, their risk appetite and consistent advancement of their innovative ideas paid off. After a consolidation phase of only six years, the company’s success story was crowned by the promising going public of Bio-Gate AG on April 5, 2006. The company, with corporate domiciles in Nuremberg and Bremen, is a spin-off which originated from the university of Erlangen and the Fraunhofer IFAM institute for production technology and applied material research in Bremen. The nanotechnology company is specialized in refining materials and surfaces with nano silver particles to make them antibacterial.

“Without the technical coordination and organization of promotion funds by the experts of Fraunhofer Venture, the development of this company would surely have been different”, Tobias Schwind, supervisory board member of Bio-Gate, underlines two of the most significant advantages for the company’s progress. The foundation was implemented within the scope of a joint project of scientists of the Fraunhofer institute in Bremen, the university of Erlangen and industrial partners. It was supported by the German federal ministry of education and research, the federal state of Bavaria and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, who all have shares in the company. In the fiscal year 2005, a turnover of 3 million € could already be recorded with a positive annual surplus.

However, Bio-Gate AG does not only focus on its previous in-house developments, but already expanded its portfolio by two new patents following the company’s IPO and has thus enlarged its market and sales potentials. Harald Kraus, chief financial officer of Bio-Gate AG: “With the two new patents, we reinforce the marketing of the nano-scale silver developed by us. Bio-Gate can now enter further markets on which the company also holds the patents.” In the area of silicone technology, new applications are facilitated in the medical, food technology and paints and lacquers sectors. In the sector of personal care, particularly the antimicrobial design of cosmetic and hygiene products is focused on. “We have already received fist enquiries for these applications”, states Kraus. Bio-Gate plans to launch initial applications on the basis of the new patents as early as in 2007.

“In addition to products and solutions for the prevention and reduction of infections, further internationally requested application areas can be tackled. Particularly the consumer industry for paints and lacquers, the transportation sector and the textile market represent hygiene-sensitive areas”, Dr. Thorsten Bechert, chief executive officer of Bio-Gate AG, outlines the future fields of action and favorable prerequisites for the company’s further growth opportunities.

The micro-scale silver of the Bio-Gate group is hitherto predominantly employed in the medical sector, for example in catheters and implant materials, where it makes the refined products antimicrobial. Up to now, a dental filling material refined with silver is already available on the market. In addition to medical technology, the silver particles of Bio-Gate AG are also applied in the aircraft industry. Together with the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the lacquer manufacturer Mankiewicz developed and qualified an antimicrobial lacquer system based on Bio-Gate silver for application in aircraft interiors. The coating improves the hygiene on board, for example in kitchens and toilets. Following comprehensive tests, Airbus qualified and approved the lacquer. Airlines can order the innovation as special equipping when purchasing new machines or have their interiors retrofitted within the scope of maintenance or lacquering works. First enquiries regarding the utilization of the antimicrobial coating by several national and international airlines have already been received.