Fact Sheet 
Website: https://www.vlb-berlin.org/fibw
Institute/Association Location: Berlin
Year Founded: 1883 (entire VLB)
Number of Employees: 135 (entire VLB), 18 (FIBW only)
Main Contact in the Bio-PAT Network: Dr. Martin Senz
Position: Head of Department Bioprocess Technology and Applied Microbiology (BEAM) at the Research Institute for Biotechnology and Water (FIBW)
Products / Product Groups / Services / Competencies FIBW:
– Research and development as well as services in the following areas:
- Bioprocess Technology and Applied Microbiology (BEAM), specifically Beverage Technology:
- Development of fermentation processes using process analytics (miniaturization in BioLector Pro, scale-up in stirred tank reactors, impedance measurement methods, flow cytometry, electro-optical in-line measurements, scanning electron microscopic analyses (SEM))
- Process optimization (bioeconomic aspects)
- Contract fermentations
- Production of functional ingredients using yeasts
- In-vitro digestion studies
- Fermented, non-alcoholic beverages such as kombucha, water kefir & co.
- Applied Biotechnology: Specifically yeast strain collection, strain screening, and strain optimization
- Water Quality Assurance and Technology:
- Water analytics: Chemical-physical and microbiological investigations
- Assessment of water quality
- Water management: Water saving, water reuse, water recycling
- Process optimization and validation: Planning and optimization of water (wastewater) treatment plants, failure analysis, biodegradability tests, cleaning and disinfection
- Biological Laboratory (microbiological services and research for the brewing and beverage industry):
- Microbiological analytics (classical and molecular biological methods)
- Species-specific identification of bacterial and fungal contaminants
- Provision of pure culture yeasts and starter cultures from VLB’s own strain collection
- Production and new development of culture media for microbiology
- Determination of general hygiene status within the scope of operational controls
- Microbiological training on-site or in VLB’s Biological Laboratory
Looking for Partners / Collaborations:
As research and development in applied microbiology, bioprocess technology, water technology, and beverage technology is a core area of FIBW at VLB Berlin, we are generally interested in collaborations within innovative research and industrial projects.
