Industry Spotlight: Biotechnology
Biotechnology, according to IBISWorld, is one of the ten fastest growing industries. Thanks to evolving technology, this industry is getting a big boost in growth and revenue. From 2000-2011 Biotech experienced an 11% growth rate, and is forecasted to grow 9.6% through 2016!
What is biotechnology? Put simply it is technology based on biology. The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity defines 
biotechnology as: “Any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.”
This industry benefits more than just pharmaceutical companies – though huge advances have been made in treatments of rare diseases as a result of biotech’s evolving technology. Biotech benefits agriculture through reducing crop damage by weeds, diseases and insects, and as consumers we benefit by reduced use of pesticides on biotech crops. Biotech is also responsible for the biofuels being developed, helping to reduce the impact on the environment.
The biotech industry is huge (more than 86 billion in revenue in 2010), so it would be difficult to discuss all the new trends and tools in technology this industry is experiencing. But we found five really cool new tools that are entering the market (or about to) thanks to biotech:
1. Fighting superbugs
Hollywood periodically likes to release thriller movies about some superbug that kills everyone on the planet. Scary stuff – but biotechnology is working to avoid the scenario. By changing the genetics of bacteria, Dr. Udi Qimron of the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at Tel Aviv University’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine has developed a solution to one of the bigger health issues facing the healthcare industry – antibiotic-resistant bacteria. He developed a hi-tech cleanser that disarms and kills bacteria. The cleanser can be added to a bucket or spray once it had been made available for hospitals and healthcare facilities. Read more about this new cleanser on ScienceDaily.
2. Detecting life-threatening brain injuries
A company called PhysioSonics, based in Bellevue, Washington has developed a device that can monitor cerebral blood flow. The monitor is expected to be tested and then deployed for use at military facilities that care for soldiers with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). The device will be optimized to detect a condition called vasospasm that can lead to reduced blood flow within the brain. According to the company, vasospasm occurs in almost half of blast induced TBI victims.
3. Repairing human injuries and defects
Using a 3D Inkjet printer, researchers at Washington State University created a material that is bone-like and acts as a scaffold to support growth of new bone, and dissolves without any bad side-effects. This means that in a few short years, doctors might be able to replace bone tissue using this technology. All that is needed is a CT scan, and this will be converted to a CAD file that makes the scaffold. Read the WSU’s press release about the research to find out more.
4. Producing cost-effective renewable fuels
A new venture between Amyris, Inc. and Total SA will allow the companies to produce and sell renewable diesel and jet fuel. Amyris bioengineers yeast from organic plant sugars, and through partnerships with sugar and ethanol producers, the company sells renewable products including chemicals and transportation fuels that have lower carbon, and are designed to perform better than the products they replace. Amyris, and other companies like it, are using biotechnology to solve problems that nature hasn’t yet had an answer for. These types of technology can re-engineer molecules from more renewable sources, in this case sugar, to make biofuels that ease our dependence on fossil fuels. Read the press release to learn more about the venture.
5. Sustainably producing food for expanding world population
Biotechnology isn’t just a game-changer for medicine and energy products, it can also help solve food supply issues. One example is a study funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council is researching a new way to develop crops that can cope with weather changes. The findings are based on researching how algae survive through renewing damaged cell proteins. The expanding world population and pressure to develop sustainable food sources is stressing the agriculture system, making biotechnology more important than ever. New advances in technology and computing systems, such as high-throughput DNA sequencing machines, are helping to make the process two to three times faster, and much more cost-effective.
Biotechnology is a fascinating field with state-of-the-art technology that can make any non-techies head spin. This is just a small example of some of the great uses of technology this industry is applying to solve real-world problems we all are facing. And it is a field that has grown in leaps and bounds, largely due to better computing systems and software. It is a good “marriage” of better technology and really smart scientists and engineers. As a company that is always interested in the leading edge – Amadeus Consulting like to keep an eye on this industry as it grows.
