The contamination of urban environments and water sources is a problem for governments and local authorities all over the world. Clean-ups are often hugely expensive, time consuming and not always eco- friendly. As a result, Carlow-based bioremediation start-up MircroGen Biotech is expecting a lot of interest from around the globe in its ground-breaking clean-up technology that is both cost effective and kind to the surrounding environment.

MircroGen Biotech uses naturally-occurring bacteria to clean up large-scale contaminated soil and water sites.

Its founder is biochemist Xuemei Germaine, who has 15 years’ experience in the cleantech and life science sectors behind her. She is also a former lecturer in Carlow IT with a doctorate in environmental biotechnology.

“Our goal was to provide complete clean-up solutions for problem sites using unique combinations of natural soil degrading bacteria and site specific organisms coupled with novel engineering and treatment processes,” says Germaine, who spun out MircroGen Biotech from Carlow IT in 2012.

“My team and I have 25 years’ of research experience in microbial and plant mediated bioremediation technologies for cleaning up environmental pollutants between us.

“We have developed leading edge slow-release bioremediation products and platform remediation technologies that are site-specific and offer higher remediation efficiency than existing solutions.

“Our products are encapsulated in a slow-release gel and this enables a higher rate of pollutant clean up than the generic liquid microbial products currently available on the market.

Chinese export market

“The world remediation market is worth around $40 billion (€32bn) and China alone is forecast to be worth $5 billion next year.

“I am originally from China and have many contacts there. This is why we have chosen China as our first export market. However, our solutions are applicable worldwide.

“Around a fifth of arable land in China is contaminated resulting in food safety concerns and the Chinese government is injecting billions to fund the clean up.

“The only viable solution is to apply biotechnologies to restore these lands. Currently there are no proven bioremediation-phytoremediation technologies available in this market. The remediation industry only started in 2007 in China so it is a great opportunity for us.

“Yes, we have plenty of competition there including foreign consulting companies, local research institutes and engineering companies. However, these competitors mainly apply chemical or physical technologies to the problem. Our advantage is that we are the only commercial provider in the bioremediation-phytoremediation niche.”

MicroGen Biotech has already set up an office in China and has three staff based there. Recruitment in Ireland is about to get under way with up to five jobs created initially.

Within the next five years Germaine expects the company to be supporting up to 200 high-tech jobs as its portfolio of products for different sectors continues to expand.

The company will produce a range of off-the-shelf products that will be manufactured in Ireland, while bespoke formulations to treat specific problems will be made up on-site most likely in co-operation with a local partner.

Germaine is a former participant in Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers programme and MicroGen Biotech has received funding from the competitive start-up fund.

The cost of bringing the business to product launch point has been around €200,000, largely financed from private equity. Both Enterprise Ireland and Carlow IT have small shareholdings in the company.

Germaine is now looking to raise around €500,000 to fund expansion plans and it is her intention to remain based in Carlow.

“For a start it means we have the expertise of Carlow IT on our doorstep and it also gives us access to researchers, technical staff and graduates both from Carlow and from nearby Waterford IT.”