Cork-based synthetic biology accelerator IndieBio has cranked up again this year, in which nine startups from around the world are participating.

The IndieBio programme is designed to support individuals and companies with an early-stage prototype, invest in them with cash, laboratory space in UCC as well as expert mentorship to help develop them into viable companies.

The startups, from from North America, Europe and Ireland, are currently located in Cork and are working with the IndieBio team, SOSventures and a global network of mentors and advisers.

The fledgling businesses are variously trying to develop yoghurts to help people live longer, allergen-free peanuts and ocean-friendly fish-farming feed.

According to Bill Liao, a founder of IndieBio and European venture partner for SOSventures: “IndieBio carefully selects teams from around the world who have the potential and the capacity to create world-changing biotech solutions for problems that were previously seen as intractable.

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“SOSventures created IndieBio as a way to attract into Ireland and Cork these types of world-class companies in the field of synthetic biology.”

Liao added that IndieBio was the first of its kind in the world in the field of life sciences. “Ireland and Cork are extremely well resourced in the area of life sciences, and key academic partners in Cork make the IndieBio programme a no-brainer for the area,” he said.

The accelerator programme lasts for three months in Cork and participating startups receive an investment of around €50,000 for 8% equity.

This years’ EU IndieBio companies are:

Ageria: Developing foods beneficial to health and longevity;
Aranex Biotech: Creating a peanut without allergens;
BioCellection: Creating an ocean-friendly fish-farming feed that provide the nutritional requirements of commercially farmed fish without relying on by-catch or trawler-caught fish produce;
Efflorus: Producing high-value fragrance compounds from micro-organisms;
GlonDX: Creating a diagnostic DNA computer for neglected tropical disease;
PiLi: Developing colours for manufactures from natural sources that won’t hurt the planet or customers’ pockets;
Prospective Research Inc: Working on a revolutionary way to discover new medicines from Streptomyces;
Saphium: Designing bioplastic-producing algae that eat CO2 and release cheaply-purifiable plastic granules, ready for big or small manufacturing including 3D printing;
Sothic Bioscience: Aiming to save the horseshoe crab by creating artificial limulus blood.