The conference sessions, running parallel to the 1-2-1 meetings program, underpins the event’s core mission of scaling industrial biomanufacturing in the region.
A carefully curated program of company presentations, guest speakers and panels will deliver actionable insights and solutions to critical industry challenges – sparking transformative 1-2-1 commercial discussions.
08:00
Welcome coffee & registration
09:00
Opening Remarks
Paul MacDonald, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Bio Innovations APAC
09:05
Guest Keynote Address & Fireside Chat
From the Soil to valuable Bio-Chemicals and Bio-Products
The world continues to rely on fossil resources to meet its needs. To address climate change, the current methods of development and growth will have to change. There will have to be a transition to the use of renewable resources.
The world is deeply reliant on ‘Oil’. To enable the green transformation, there will have to be a shift to the ‘Sun and Soil’ economy. The use of agriculture and biomass to meet the need of food, fuel and materials will have to grow. A circular integrated advanced biorefinery approach can realize the productivity for these needs.
The Indian based company Godavari Biorefineries is leading in their circular integrated biorefinery approach with conversion of Biomass to Food, Fuel and Biochemicals. The company has been making and selling bio-chemicals in the fields of skin care, cosmetics, agrochemicals, adhesives, coatings and other areas globally. In their approach Godavari Biorefineries co-create solutions with farmers, with customers, and with academia and research institutions. Mrs Sangeeta will also speak on the efforts of the company in the field of Circular Biomanufacturing, Regenerative Agriculture and on Social Sustainability.
Sangeeta Srivastava, Executive Director, Godavari Biorefineries Limited
09:30
Fireside chat
Braskem’s Bio-Based Innovation Journey and Opportunities for APAC
Lucas will speak on Braskem’s journey in biopolymers, with a focus on bio-polyethylene, but also other bio-based solutions, highlighting feedstock strategies, sustainability, and partnerships. He will discuss the types of stakeholders Braskem would like to engage with, including global and local brand owners, share insights and lessons from Braskem’s global initiatives in Brazil, US, Europe, and APAC, and outline the company’s vision for bio-based materials, strategic priorities, and innovation focus areas across the region.
Hosted by:
Paul MacDonald, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Bio Innovations APAC
Featuring:
Lucas Palhares, Head of Sustainable Transformation in Asia, Braskem
10:00
Closing the fermentation cost-gap with continuous operation
Many large-scale fermentative processes suffer from uncompetitive cost-levels and high upfront investments. DAB.bio addresses this challenge with its FAST technology. FAST technology is based on a process intensifying reactor for continuous operations which strongly increases the capacity of fermentation plants, at very high capex efficiency. By licensing DAB.bio’s FAST technology manufacturers achieve competitive cost-levels and reduce CAPEX, addressing the cost gap of biomanufacturing and creating new opportunities for the bioconversion of (agri)commodities into chemicals, foods and biofuels.
Eric van der Meer, CEO, DAB.bio
10:15
Building a Circular Future with FDCA and PEF Biobased Materials
At GS Biomats, we showcase our leadership in biobased furan materials through HMF and FDCA, now successfully commercialized and supplied globally. Our high-performance FDCA enables scalable, low-carbon solutions across packaging, textiles, and personal care markets. Powered by our proprietary continuous process and “SMART” catalytic system, we deliver consistent quality, cost efficiency, and rapid market adoption, accelerating the global transition to sustainable materials.
Susan Zhu, Global Marketing Director, GS Biomats
10:30
Biosurfactants and Probiotics for the Environment and Human Health
As the world is getting more focused on sustainability and people, we need to get deeper into the same trend with our technologies and product lines.
At Godrej, given our deep presence in the home and personal care markets along with our ambition to get into the wellbeing space, we have entered the Bio-surfactants and Probiotics product segments, respectively.
Bio-surfactants are focused on replacing conventional synthetic surfactants using renewable resources with a lower impact while delivering application performance. Probiotics is focused on continuing the journey towards natural ingredients, enabling safer end-use applications by reducing reliance on harsh chemicals and helping lower the need for antibiotics in preventive health contexts.
In this session, this journey will be shared along with the learnings and challenges that are being faced. Godrej is also keenly looking for technology partners in this space.
Raja Kaliappan, Head of Research and Development, Godrej Industries Limited (Chemicals)
10:45
Networking coffee
11:30
Panel discussion
Everything You Need to Know When Raising Capital to Fund Your Next Leap - From Lab to Industrial Scale
This panel brings together investors, founders, and industry experts to guide early-stage and scaleup biomanufacturing companies through the complexities of raising capital. Discussions will cover key funding strategies, investor expectations, and the critical milestones needed to move from lab-scale innovation to industrial-scale production.
Hosted by:
Rachel Loh Pei She, Senior Manager (Industry Development), SINERGY
Featuring:
Shaw Jia Hong, Head of Ignite, Elev8.vc
Harold Au, Senior Principal (Investments, Green & Bio-Economy), EDBI
Akbar Vahidi, Chief Technology Officer, Allozymes
Jasmine Qiu, Assistant Director (Medtech and Biotech), SGInnovate
12:00
20 Years of Microbial Technology Development – Acies Bio SmartRoute™ Story
Acies Bio’s SmartRoute™ platform is a truly end-to-end microbial biotechnology solution built on 20 years of industrial experience. The platform integrates strain engineering, bioprocess development, scale-up, and regulatory readiness to accelerate commercialization with reduced technical and regulatory risk. In recent expansion a demonstration facility will be upgraded with 30 m3 ferementor, demonstrating Acies Bio’s capability to translate laboratory innovation into robust, industrial-scale manufacturing across food, agriculture, and industrial biotechnology, and strategic partner value creation.
Martin Kavšček, Head of Business Development, Acies Bio
12:15
Enabling Low-Carbon bio-PET: Sustainea’s One-Step Glycol Innovation
Listen in as Sustainea shares how they’re helping turn corn into innovative solutions for everyday life, from packaging to textiles and apparel. Using an advanced one-step process, their plant-based, low-carbon glycols are drop-in solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing processing and recycling value chains, while matching the quality and functionality of traditional fossil-based counterparts. Discover how this technology helps reduce carbon emissions and supports companies in reaching their sustainability goals.
Matthew Berdy, Global Commercial Director, Sustainea Bioglycols
12:30
Networking lunch
14:00
Panel discussion
Building Reliable Biomass Value Chains to Grow APAC'S Biomanufacturing
As industrial biomanufacturing expands across Asia-Pacific, the availability, accessibility and movement of biomass are critical to driving scale. This session brings together upstream suppliers, industry bodies, and downstream market players to examine key challenges; from feedstock collection and certification to supply reliability and end market demand; and discuss what practical steps are needed to strengthen biomass value chains and accelerate adoption across APAC.
Hosted by:
Paul MacDonald, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Bio Innovations APAC
Featuring:
Cai Rong Lim, Senior Manager Biomass Balance Solutions Asia Pacific, BASF
Dato’ Leong Kin Mun, President, Malaysia Biomass Industries Confederation
Michaela Mannion, Head, Global Marketing, Specialty & Brand Owner, Packaging & CES, Borouge
Rumi Hoshino, President, Director, PT Santomo Biomass Indonesia
14:30
The Commoditization of FDCA: Navigating Feedstock, IP, and Scale-up
Celluranics is a venture-backed start-up developing and commercializing breakthrough technologies to help defossilize the chemical industry. We convert renewable and recycled feedstocks into cost-competitive, high-value bio-based chemicals, with initial focus on glucaric acid and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), both recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy among the “Top 12 Value-Added Chemicals from Biomass.” Our platform enables sustainable applications across packaging, personal care, water treatment, and performance materials. Having successfully validated our proprietary process in a 50-tonne-per-annum pilot plant, we are now scaling toward a 5,000-tonne-per-annum demonstration facility.
Neng Guo, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Celluranics, Inc.
14:45
From Rainforest to Global Markets: Building Borneo’s Bioindustrial Future through Partnerships
Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, is advancing a new bioindustrial model that connects biodiversity, responsible sourcing, and industrial biomanufacturing. BioVerde Technologies, the commercial arm of the Sarawak Biodiversity Council, is developing the Sarawak BioIndustrial Park to translate rainforest-derived innovation into scalable global supply chains while ensuring equitable benefit sharing with indigenous communities. This session outlines how public–private partnerships, sustainable feedstocks, and investment-ready infrastructure can accelerate bio-based manufacturing in Asia-Pacific. The presentation highlights collaboration opportunities across ingredients, bioprocessing, and downstream applications, inviting partners seeking to co-develop projects that deliver both commercial value and community impact from rainforest resources.
Hazwan Razak, Chief Executive Officer, BioVerde Technologies Sdn Bhd