On 3 June 2026, ELLIPSE participated in the 17th Swiss Day of Life Sciences, organised by the Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology (ICBT) at ZHAW, held at the ZHAW Campus Grüental in Wädenswil, Switzerland.
This year’s edition was dedicated to one of the most pressing challenges of our time: the future of the bioeconomy. Under the guiding theme “Shaping the Future Bioeconomy: Innovations from Biomass”, the event highlighted how renewable resources, biotechnological processes, and chemical innovation can contribute to sustainable economic development and the transition towards more circular value chains.
Within this context, ELLIPSE was represented by our colleague Bernhard Drosg from BEST – Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH, who presented results from our pilot-scale reactor during the session “The Value Session – High-Value Biomass Pathways”. His presentation, titled “Producing Volatile Fatty Acids from Waste – Pilot-Scale Experiences” (13:30-13:45), showcased key findings from ongoing work on the valorisation of waste streams into valuable platform chemicals.
The presentation attracted strong interest from the audience, generating engaging discussions on the scalability of the process, its potential industrial applications, and its relevance within emerging bio-based value chains.
ELLIPSE’s contribution to the event underlined the importance of pilot-scale validation in bridging the gap between research and industrial implementation, particularly in the field of waste valorisation and bio-based chemical production.
We would like to thank the organisers of the Swiss Day of Life Sciences for the opportunity to contribute to this high-level scientific forum and for fostering a stimulating environment for exchange between academia and industry.
