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2025-07-22
The team behind Klaipėda University (KU) startup “Inobiostar” is step by step, challenge by challenge, paving the way for a scientist-born idea to succeed — tackling the problem of water pollution caused by oil products using natural, environmentally friendly means. Born within KU’s scientific infrastructure and developed into a patented pilot-stage biotechnology, the idea is already being called revolutionary and one that could fundamentally change the oil pollution mitigation market. Its focused journey to market is closely watched by both the scientific and business communities.An interview with Dr. Tatjana Paulauskienė, the leader of MB “Inobiostar”, scientist, co-inventor of the innovation, and recipient of the Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus Environmental Award.
KU startup “Inobiostar” was founded in 2020 with a purpose - to transform a scientific idea with huge potential into an effective and in-demand market product. What foundation did your team have back then, and where are you today?
When we started our journey, we only had knowledge in the field of oil pollution treatment and a vague understanding of how a scientific idea could be commercialized and become a commodity in the market. The establishment of the startup was driven by national and international recognition. At that time, we already had intensive discussions with innovation experts from Great Britain, and our idea got into the TOP5 of the best projects of TechHub pre-accelerator participants of the “Innovation Agency”. We then consulted patent trustees on the protection of the idea and were encouraged to pursue an international patent. All this gave us the confidence and courage to embark on this wonderful, challenging journey.
Now, after five years of intensive work, we already have all the necessary resources to pursue our dream. We have the capital, access to world-class experts, strong support from the business community and colleagues. We have also begun to gain a better understanding of the complexities and challenges of building a business. We share our experience with other startups and scientists who want to start their own business path — this is very important for me personally. I would like to see more Lithuanian startups among the winners of the European Commission's programs. I would say that now our team is going through the most interesting creative period.
And what is born in the laboratory?
We develop a biomaterial - sorbent-sponge for cleaning oil contaminants “InnoAerogel”, made from paper waste. The uniqueness of the product lies in the fact that we integrate petroleum-degrading microorganisms isolated from the Baltic Sea into the biomaterial. During oil spills, this sorbent effectively absorbs contaminants, and microorganisms contribute to their biological neutralization.
Today, there is a shortage of effective, environmentally friendly solutions on the sorbent market, which is especially important for the transition to a climate-neutral economy. We hope that the product we are developing with outstanding characteristics will become in demand in the field of oil pollution management and contribute to the creation of a more sustainable, cleaner future.
In 2024, the idea of Inobiostar successfully passed a multi-stage evaluation system and secured investments for the further development of biotechnology - 2.3 million euros were allocated for the InnoAerogel project. EUR grant from the EU's Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation EIC Accelerator. What does this say about the project?
The EIC-Accelerator programme of the European Innovation Council is very attractive to developers of so-called deep tech, although the success rate of the programme is only 7%. Not all innovative ideas receive funding even after successful completion of all 3 evaluation stages. We succeeded. We can be proud that Inobiostar (so far the only spin-off company in Lithuania) has secured the financing of the prestigious program. This means that we have become part of the European ecosystem of deep tech startups. Here we get the highest quality expert assistance, access to infrastructure and additional capital. Several times a month we receive valuable proposals for opportunities to present our idea at international exhibitions or events of potential investors. We organize trainings in the areas of intellectual property and knowledge commercialization.
How is the project going?
The InnoAerogel project started on October 1, 2024. We are in full swing, although only 9 out of 24 months have passed. During the entire time allotted to the project, we must complete the product development process: install a pilot production line, start product production and testing with various customers. As of today, we have 3 potential product testing partners in Lithuania and one abroad. The project is running smoothly, some activities are completed ahead of schedule, some activities require more time.
What challenges do you face?
The biggest challenge is the transfer of technology from the laboratory to the production scale. Some solutions that work well in the laboratory are difficult to implement in large-scale production and require unique solutions. On the one hand, this is a great challenge for the whole team, and on the other, it is the moment when innovation is born. To this day, we are already completing the design work on the production line of aerogels, preparatory work on the installation of production facilities is underway. The main equipment has already been ordered, its production is underway. We expect to install the production line by the end of the year, and start its commissioning, production and testing of aerogels in 2026. It will take another 6 months.
Did you imagine this way of commercializing the invention, what qualifications and abilities did the people of Inobiostar need?
The implementation of the project is very intensive, requiring not only deep interdisciplinary knowledge and experience, but also a change of attitude and personal transformation, changing the scale from laboratory scale to production scale, from scientist to entrepreneur. This experience is unique, covering the entire innovation cycle from the birth of an idea to its realization in practice. I can only be proud of my team and our achievements.
Introduce your team: who are your comrades and like-minded people?
The core of the team consists of KU scientists. We started with two colleagues dr. Marija Katarżyte — co-author of the idea and invention. We were joined fairly quickly by dr. Jochen Uebe is a researcher from Germany who has successfully integrated into the KU academic community and has been working with us for more than five years. We currently have nine people in the team, but we feel the need to continue to grow sustainably. Biotechnology (KU and EU-CONEXUS (European University for the Sustainable Development of Smart Coasts)) and chemical engineering students are constantly joining the project, who bring energy, a new approach and even greater ambitions. In addition to the scientific core, we have a number of national and international partners, mentors and coaches. Every member of the team is very important and I am sincerely happy to work with such a strong and inspiring team.
The success of Inobiostar began with an idea generated by two female KU scientists. This characteristic also seems to be one of the keys to the success of the development of biotechnology and perhaps a challenge to the male world of science and business?
We all believe in our project and try to make the most of all possible opportunities for the development of the idea. More recently, MB Inobiostar was selected for the WE-RISE (Women Entrepreneurs in Renewable, Innovative, and Sustainable Enterprises) project program and is claiming to receive an additional up to 55 thousand. EUR grant for the development of the InnoAerogel product. More than one and a half hundred startups from 43 countries participated in the selection and only 20 of them were selected for the program. We are the only participants of the program from Lithuania. The main objective of WE-RISE is to strengthen the position of women entrepreneurs in the fields of green technologies, agrotechnologies and climate technologies, increase their number and increase the market influence of women-led startups.
Listening to you may give the impression that in the way of commercializing a scientific invention there are no insurmountable obstacles, unattainable goals, lack of investment, unfair competition or even theft of ideas. Do you feel safe and secure diving into the oceans of the global biotechnology market?
The great protection is the competencies that lead us forward. I am pleased that we have just received the EUIPO (EU Intellectual Property Office) registration certificate for our trademark InnoAerogel. This is an important step in strengthening the protection of intellectual property in the international market, which not only protects against unfair competition, but also strengthens the credibility of the company, increasing the value of the product in the market. This protection opens up wide opportunities for licensing, partnerships and export development in the EU area.
When is the time scheduled for a winning finish in your team's plan? How do you visualize it? Will it be the first aerogel products produced, or an ecological disaster in global waters under control, or maybe the first million earned?
Every achievement you mention is important to us. We have both short-term and long-term goals, but the road is long, so it is very important to be happy with every step forward. That's what we do with the team. Personally, I, as a scientist, look forward to the successful purification of the final “recipe” of the product. As a chemical and environmental engineer — installation and commissioning of the aerogel production line. This will be a significant step on our path. Later, we will try to test the product with real customers — for this we already have partners in Lithuania and we are building relationships with foreign markets.
This ambitious project is a strong impetus for the further development of the business and the opportunity to multiply it - on a larger scale and in different locations, so in the near future our main priority will be raising capital. We plan to further improve the product by optimizing production processes and costs, and we will also look for applications of aerogels in other areas as well. This is just the beginning.
The author of the interview - Daiva Valaitytė.
