The collaboration with Bionbax (Argentina) represents a practical case of international knowledge transfer in the field of biopolymer production. The opportunity emerged unexpectedly, when the Argentinian partner discovered our work through an online presentation, which led to a direct approach and subsequent agreement on the sale of know-how developed in Kraków. Following the contract, a dedicated employee was trained and seconded to Bionbax, ensuring that the acquired expertise could be effectively embedded within their operations.
The project aims to implement a complete production scheme for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), scaling up from laboratory and pilot results achieved in Poland to a target of four industrial fermentors of 10,000 L each. Planned activities include stepwise adaptation of fermentation strategies, downstream integration, and process optimization under Argentinian conditions. Key milestones are the successful knowledge transfer, workforce training, and demonstration of high-volume PHB production.
Currently, the implementation phase is ongoing, with transferred methods being tested and adapted locally. The collaboration demonstrates how academic know-how can be transformed into industrial practice, while reinforcing international links and supporting the global development of sustainable biopolymers.