12 Apr 2013
ERJ staff report (BC)
San Donato Milanese, Italy – Eni elastomer production subsidiary Versalis and biotech firm Genomatica have signed a joint development and licensing agreement for bio-based butadiene from non-food crops.
Future licensees of the process, including Versalis, will provide the capital required for the construction and operation of their own plants, and be responsible for the use and sale of the resulting butadiene.
Versalis aims at being the first to license the process and build commercial plants. It will also provide over $20m (€15.3m) in funding to Genomatica to support development of the integrated process.
The venture will marry the expertise of Genomatica in modifying microorganisms and fermenting sugars with that of Versalis in catalysis design and process engineering.
The agreement fulfils the actions set out in a July 2012 memorandum of understanding.
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