Brain bio-based industry opens US subsidiary to expand in North America

06-Mar-2018 - Last updated on 06-Mar-2018 at 10:58 GMT

Brain opens a subsidiary in Maryland, US. Photo: Brain.

Brain has opened a US subsidiary called B.R.A.I.N. Biotechnology Research and Information Network US (BRAIN LLC) to expand its business across North America.

Brain has two main functions; BioScience; where it identifies previously untapped, efficient enzymes, microbial producer organisms or natural substances from complex biological systems that can be put to industrial use and BioIndustrial; development of biological technology for target industries.

Bio-economics market

Thanks to the new subsidiary, the company will expand its links with international research co-operations, within which it already works.

Dr. Jürgen Eck, CEO, Brain, said it has taken a series of strategic measures since the beginning of the financial year 2017/18 to expand its business development and market access.

“The establishment of Brain in the US state of Maryland drives forward the internationalization of our business development to market our products and processes in the international bio-economics market more effectively in the future,” he said.

“Direct market access is of great importance. Our M&A strategy and the preparation of product-specific spin-offs to strengthen our product-driven business segment BioIndustrial contributes to this.”

Brain already has a US representative office, Analyticon Discovery and Brain Group expects synergies and faster market access for its own product and process developments through the co-operation of the two US branches.

Brain and Analyticon Discovery are already partners in initiatives such as the DOLCE program, which develops biological sugar substitutes and sweetener enhancers.

The DOLCE program was set up in 2016 and gives consumer product goods companies (CPGCs) knowledge on how to develop and produce natural sweeteners for sugar and calorie reduction in food and beverages.

Plant-based raw materials

Besides AnalytiCon Discovery, Brain has partnered with Roquette on this program, which specializes in food ingredients from plant-based raw materials.

Brain and Analyticon Discovery also work together on development programs based on naturally derived active ingredients for different target industries. For example, as well as the targeted reduction of sugar in the food industry, it is looking at the reduction of salt and fat in foods and beverages and natural substances that prevent germs and spoilage of food products.

This includes the PerillicActive development program for natural active ingredients based on fermented orange oil.

Brain recently published its financial results for the first three months of fiscal year 2017/18 with total operating performance down for the period October 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017, (€6.0m compared to €6.6m the previous year).

Group revenues were down 13.1% from €6.1m to €5.3m.

“To increasingly realize the revenue potential of Brain in the bioeconomy future markets we initiated a series of strategic measures since the beginning of the current financial year 2017/18,” Eck said at the time.

BioScience segment

“These include the intensification of our M&A strategy, the growing internationalization of Brain’s business activities and the execution of product-specific spin-offs. The BioScience segment remains the undisputed second pillar.

“In spite of the unexpected decrease in revenues in the first quarter of the financial year 2017/18, we still forecast double-digit growth of Brain’s Group revenues for the full financial year, resulting from combined organic and inorganic growth.”

Currently, the Brain Group consists of six companies; Analyticon Discovery; L.A. Schmitt Chem; Mekon Science Networks; Monteil Cosmetics International; MYE Kosmetik and WeissBioTech.