Scaling
bio-based
innovation
Open-access pilot-scale infrastructure supporting the
transition from lab-scale innovation to pre-commercial
deployment.
100–3,000L
Bioreactor capacity
TRL 4→8
Scale-up range
Who We Are
Ireland's first dedicated biorefinery pilot plant
The National Biorefinery Pilot Plant (NBPP) is Ireland’s first
dedicated open-access and integrated bio-based product
and process scale-up facility. It supports the progression of
bio-based innovations from lab-scale validation to pilot-scale
demonstration and pre-commercial deployment.
Open-Access Infrastructure
Available to SMEs, startups, researchers and established industry partners.
Integrated Processing
End-to-end bioprocessing from pre-treatment through to downstream recovery.
Industry-Led Partnerships
Flexible engagement models tailored to your innovation stage and needs.
Scale-Up Pathway
From lab to market
Lab-Scale
TRL 4
Pilot-Scale
TRL 5-7
Pre-Commercial
TRL 8
01
Pre-treatment & Upstream
Conversion of agri-food by-products and
biomass into fermentation-ready substrates
using physico-chemical and enzymatic.
- Mechanical & thermochemical pre- treatment
- Enzymatic hydrolysis
- On-site inoculum upstream processing
02
Fermentation
Scalable fermentation capabilities from
100L to 3,000L across multiple bioreactor
configurations.
- 100L – 3,000L bioreactors
- Submerged & solid-state fermentation
- Real-time process monitoring
03
Downstream Processing
Product recovery, separation, and
purification to achieve target quality and
yield.
- Centrifugation & filtration
- Chromatographic separation
- Product purification
04
Preservation & Concentration
Stabilisation and formulation of bio-based
products for storage, transport, and
application testing.
- Spray drying & freeze drying
- Evaporation & concentration
- Encapsulation
05
Application Testing & TEA/LCA
Validation of product performance and
techno-economic and life-cycle
assessment.
- Functional testing & characterisation
- Techno-economic analysis (TEA)
- Life-cycle assessment (LCA)
Why MBPP
Why work with NBPP
Reduce technical and
scale-up risk
De-risk your innovation journey with proven pilot- scale infrastructure and expert technical support at every stage.
Accelerate the path to
market
Compress development timelines with integrated processing capabilities and rapid iteration from lab to pre-commercial scale.
Strengthen internal R&D
and validation
Access specialised equipment and expertise that complement your internal capabilities and generate robust validation data.
Support sustainable
bio-based innovation
Advance the circular bioeconomy with sustainable processes validated through rigorous life-cycle and techno-economic assessment.
Who NBPP supports
Organisation Types
SMEs
Startups
Spin-outs
Researchers
Established Industry
Sectors
Your scale-up partnership starts here
Contact our team to discuss how NBPP can support your bio-based
innovation.