BMX-11 | Providing Antifouling Additives for Marine Paints Inspired by Nature and Engineered for Industries

Summary
Any object submerged in water is subject to fouling, such as boats, oil drilling platforms and aquaculture equipment. To prevent fouling, companies who own submerged assets use antifouling paints (i.e. the use of antifouling paints is estimated to prevent 25% of fuel consumption of the world fleet).
However, 90% of existing antifouling paints are toxic and current solutions are not 100% effective. Plus, the most used antifouling additive – copper - is characterized by high price volatility.
Biomimetx has recently discovered a unique bacterium that secretes high levels of molecules that can be used as natural antimicrobials and algaecides. This compound can be produced through an optimized fermentation process (Internationally patented by us) that ensures high yield.
The outcome of the Phase 2 project will be the first marine antifouling paint containing a non-toxic antifoulant additive (BMX-11) on the market. BMX-11 is 100% biodegradable, cost effective and fully efficient against all elements of biofouling.
We aim to address the global market of biocide additives for marine paints estimated in at least €2.8 billion in 2016.
BMX-11 has the potential to be highly disruptive also because it allows the creation of non-toxic paints that can be certified for non-professional use. This means that BMX-11 can enable the DYI market of antifouling paints.
Biomimetx was founded in 2013, and our current team of 9 professionals has been awarded 400k€ in Portuguese research grants and 1,8M€ in Venture Capital to pursue the market rollout of BMX-11 and co-finance the present Phase 2 project.
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More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/767667
Start date: 01-07-2017
End date: 30-06-2019
Total budget - Public funding: 1 993 750,00 Euro - 1 395 625,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

Any object submerged in water is subject to fouling, such as boats, oil drilling platforms and aquaculture equipment. To prevent fouling, companies who own submerged assets use antifouling paints (i.e. the use of antifouling paints is estimated to prevent 25% of fuel consumption of the world fleet).
However, 90% of existing antifouling paints are toxic and current solutions are not 100% effective. Plus, the most used antifouling additive – copper - is characterized by high price volatility.
Biomimetx has recently discovered a unique bacterium that secretes high levels of molecules that can be used as natural antimicrobials and algaecides. This compound can be produced through an optimized fermentation process (Internationally patented by us) that ensures high yield.
The outcome of the Phase 2 project will be the first marine antifouling paint containing a non-toxic antifoulant additive (BMX-11) on the market. BMX-11 is 100% biodegradable, cost effective and fully efficient against all elements of biofouling.
We aim to address the global market of biocide additives for marine paints estimated in at least €2.8 billion in 2016.
BMX-11 has the potential to be highly disruptive also because it allows the creation of non-toxic paints that can be certified for non-professional use. This means that BMX-11 can enable the DYI market of antifouling paints.
Biomimetx was founded in 2013, and our current team of 9 professionals has been awarded 400k€ in Portuguese research grants and 1,8M€ in Venture Capital to pursue the market rollout of BMX-11 and co-finance the present Phase 2 project.

Status

CLOSED

Call topic

SMEInst-08-2016-2017

Update Date

27-10-2022
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Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.2. INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP
H2020-EU.2.3. INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs
H2020-EU.2.3.1. Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017
SMEInst-08-2016-2017 Supporting SMEs efforts for the development - deployment and market replication of innovative solutions for blue growth
H2020-SMEINST-2-2016-2017
SMEInst-08-2016-2017 Supporting SMEs efforts for the development - deployment and market replication of innovative solutions for blue growth
H2020-EU.3. SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
H2020-EU.3.2. SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy
H2020-EU.3.2.3. Unlocking the potential of aquatic living resources
H2020-EU.3.2.3.0. Cross-cutting call topics
H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017
SMEInst-08-2016-2017 Supporting SMEs efforts for the development - deployment and market replication of innovative solutions for blue growth
H2020-SMEINST-2-2016-2017
SMEInst-08-2016-2017 Supporting SMEs efforts for the development - deployment and market replication of innovative solutions for blue growth
H2020-EU.3.2.5. Cross-cutting marine and maritime research
H2020-EU.3.2.5.0. Cross-cutting call topics
H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017
SMEInst-08-2016-2017 Supporting SMEs efforts for the development - deployment and market replication of innovative solutions for blue growth
H2020-SMEINST-2-2016-2017
SMEInst-08-2016-2017 Supporting SMEs efforts for the development - deployment and market replication of innovative solutions for blue growth