The Hamburg biotech start-up COLIPI, a spin-off of Hamburg University of Technology, has sealed a pioneering partnership with Continental
The Hamburg biotech start-up COLIPI, a spin-off of Hamburg University of Technology, has sealed a pioneering partnership with Continental. Starting in summer 2026, COLIPI will lease space at the ContiTech Hamburg-Harburg location and utilise CO2-rich exhaust from production to cultivate microorganisms.
CO2 utilisation breakthrough confirmed
A decisive milestone was already reached in August 2025: COLIPI successfully demonstrated that untreated combustion gas from Continental’s steam generate does not inhibit bacterial growth. The microorganisms were able to use the CO2 as a carbon source – even in the presence of trace gases such as 46 ppm nitrogen oxides and 7 ppm carbon monoxide.
“We’re working hard to identify and implement CO2-reduction measures at our production sites. The ability to use carbon dioxide productively could be a breakthrough. It turns CO2 from part of the problem into part of the solution.”
Michael Hofmann, Head of Technology at Continental’s ContiTech
From university to industrial partner
Maximilian Webers, CEO of COLIPI, stresses the importance of the step: “As a spin-off from Hamburg University of Technology, we’re delighted to have found a strong partner in ContiTech here in Hamburg-Harburg.”
The close cooperation between COLIPI and Tutech was important: The Hamburg EEN team at Tutech supported the start-up with international contacts, while the IP team had been helping with patent registration and funding bids since 2020. This enabled COLIPI to succeed in impressive funding rounds totalling over €6 million.
Climate-neutral future for Hamburg
The collaboration fits perfectly into the partnership between Continental, TU Hamburg and Tutech, which is focusing on green technology. The conversion of CO2 to valuable Climate Oil® biomolecules – a sustainable alternative to palm oil – further strengthens Hamburg-Harburg’s position as an innovation hotspot for climate-neutral biotechnology.
The project demonstrates impressively how industrial innovation can be created from visionary university research through targeted knowledge transfer.
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