The Functional Genomics Group at Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, launched a collaboration program with TOTAL New Energies R&D on July 1, 2013.

Biofuels generated by microbes can be promising alternatives to fossil fuels: advanced biomolecules exhibit superior combustion performance and could be directly dropped into existing transportation infrastructure. The collaborative project aims at screening and identifying high performing enzymes for the bio-production of fungible biofuels and chemicals for TOTAL. This research program will be jointly led by Prof. XU Jian and Dr. Laurent Fourage.

In this project, Dr. WANG Yun and her colleagues in the Functional Genomics Group from QIBEBT will identify the desirable enzymes with targeted substrate specificity and specific activity using a biosensor-based high-throughput screening system developed in QIBEBT lab. Total plans to valorize the results of this collaboration towards its biotechnology roadmap.

About Total:

Total is one of the largest integrated oil and gas companies in the world, with activities in more than 130 countries. The Group is also a first rank player in chemicals. Its 97,000 employees put their expertise to work in every part of the industry – exploration and production of oil and natural gas, refining and marketing, new energies, trading, and chemicals. Total is working to help satisfy the global demand for energy, both today and tomorrow.

Through an open innovation research strategy, Total New Energies R&D has entered into a number of international partnerships with universities and private laboratories and acquired equity interests in innovative start-ups in solar and biotechnology domains.