© Universität Bielefeld
EFRE Start-Up (Henke)
Nadja Henke and Bicomer receive funding from ERDF „START-UP-Hochschul-Ausgründungen NRW“.
Natural Astaxanthin is a red pigment with many health benefits. Its high market value stems from its use as a colorant in fish and poultry farming; Its anti-aging, UV-absorbing and antioxidant properties make it valuable for the cosmetics industry. The start-up company Bicomer was able to convince the jury of the sponsorship competition "START-UP-Hochschul-Ausgründungen NRW" with its business model. The basis of Bicomer is the biotechnological, fermentative production of astaxanthin with the help of the microorganism Corynebacterium glutamicum. Synthetic, petroleum-based manufacturing processes are currently dominating astaxanthin production with approximately 75% market share.