HeiQ opens lab for precision fermentation

HeiQ has launched its center of excellence for the development of bio-based materials on the basis of precision fermentation in Schlieren. At the laboratory, microbes are programmed in such a way that they produce certain molecules that can be used, for example, in wound care, cosmetics, textiles and hygiene applications.

With the establishment of a laboratory for precision fermentation located in the biotech cluster in Schlieren in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland, HeiQ is consolidating its position in the field of sustainable biotechnology. At the new center of excellence, the company intends to manufacture bio-based, high-performance materials for wound care, cosmetics, textiles, packaging, hygiene and water treatment applications.

In a press release, HeiQ cites a market study from October 2025, according to which the global market for precision fermentation is set to grow from 4.25 billion US dollars in 2024 to 290.03 billion US dollars in 2035. This equates to a compound annual growth rate of 46.8 percent.

Precision fermentation is an industrial-scale biotechnological production process that uses tailor-made production organisms and intelligent bioprocesses to produce complex chemicals and active ingredients. To this end, bacteria, fungi or yeasts are specifically programmed to produce certain molecules, including proteins, without the involvement of animals. The technology is considered to be sustainable, effective and flexibly adaptable.

The new HeiQ laboratory is equipped for the development of microorganism strains, fermentation optimization and the advancement of pilot-scale processes. Moreover, it is intended to bridge the gap between discovery and pre-commercial scaling and validation. HeiQ's partners in the aforementioned sectors are expected to benefit from this.

HeiQ expects that these innovative ingredients will revolutionize industries that are traditionally dependent on petrochemical or agricultural resources. "Precision fermentation is a turning point for sustainable material science", as Dr. Robin Temmerman, Head of HeiQ Life Sciences, summarizes.

HeiQ, a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, is headquartered at the IJZ, an innovation and start-up park located in Schlieren. The company is also a member of Start Smart Schlieren.