UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has entered into a collaborative partnership with Sartorius Stedim Biotech to advance multidisciplinary teaching and research in biotechnology. This long-term relationship will support the education and preparation of the next generation of biotechnology leaders. Part of Sartorius’ investment will be to enhance the Fermentation Facility that will play a significant role in Penn State’s Center of Excellence in Industrial Biotechnology (CoEIB). Sartorius will provide state-of-the-art fermentation technologies, and a central laboratory within the Fermentation Facility will be named the Sartorius Fermentation Gallery.
“We are grateful to Sartorius for their commitment to and investment in biotechnology at Penn State,” said O. Richard Bundy III, Penn State’s vice president for development and alumni relations. “Sartorius is a global leader in research and manufacturing technologies in the field of biotechnology. Their support will enable Penn State to provide an environment that closely matches what is available in today’s premier research and manufacturing facilities, further elevating the University’s leadership position in this rapidly growing field.”
Sartorius views the partnership as an opportunity to create a hub that will promote innovation in biotechnology.
“We look forward to bringing together future thought leaders within the new Sartorius Fermentation Gallery,” said Reinhard Vogt, member of the Executive Committee of Sartorius Stedim Biotech. “The innovative bioanalytical and bioprocess technologies of Sartorius will enable these scientists to accelerate progress in biotechnology.”
Sartorius, together with additional industry partners, has been supporting Penn State for more than a year in designing the new lab space and in equipping the space based on the latest technologies.
The Fermentation Facility is one of 10 core facilities in the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and the cornerstone of Penn State’s comprehensive biotechnology effort. This effort includes the CoEIB, recently launched with a landmark gift from CSL Behring. The CoEIB provides a focal point for Penn State’s programs in the area of industrial biotechnology, including the development of research and educational initiatives focused, among other areas, on biopharmaceutical manufacturing (i.e., the manufacture of medical drugs from biological sources).
“Biotechnology has implications for the medicines we take, the food we eat, the fuel we fill our cars with, and more, but researchers working and students training in this area require world-class facilities and equipment in order to move this field forward,” said Peter Hudson, director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and Willaman Professor of Biology. “I am grateful to Sartorius for providing state-of-the-art equipment that will drive innovation for years to come.”
Underpinning the growth and sustainability of the CoEIB’s vision, as well as its contribution to the future of industrial biotechnology, is the active participation of alumni, friends, and corporate and foundation partners. To discuss how you or your organization can collaborate with the CoEIB, contact Wendy Oakes at wendyoakes@psu.edu or 814-865-7085.
Sartorius Stedim Biotech is a leading international supplier of products and services that enable the biopharmaceutical industry to develop and manufacture drugs safely and efficiently. As a total solutions provider, Sartorius Stedim Biotech offers a portfolio covering nearly all steps of biopharmaceutical manufacture. The company focuses on single-use technologies and value-added services to meet the rapidly changing technology requirements of the industry it serves. Headquartered in Aubagne, France, Sartorius Stedim Biotech is quoted on the Eurolist of Euronext Paris. With its own manufacturing and R&D sites in Europe, North America and Asia and an international network of sales companies, Sartorius Stedim Biotech has a global reach. In 2017, the company employed approximately 5,100 people and earned sales revenue of 1.081 million euros.
Gifts from Penn State’s alumni and friends have been essential to the success of the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve the public good. To fulfill that mission for a new era of rapid change and global connections, the University has begun "A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence," a fast-paced campaign focused on the three key imperatives of a public university. Private support will keep the door to higher education open and enable students to graduate on time and on track to success; create transformative experiences on Penn State campuses and around the globe that tap the full potential of Penn Staters to make a difference; and impact the world through discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. To learn more, visit greaterpennstate.psu.edu.