As a strategic player in Africa’s bioeconomy, UVU Bio’s Product Development & Innovation unit advances scientific research into practical solutions that drive growth, address pressing challenges, and unlock new opportunities for the continent. With a focus on healthcare, waste management, and renewable energy, we target industries critical to improving public health, ensuring environmental sustainability, and enabling energy security across the continent.
Combining deep technical expertise with state-of-the-art facilities, the team delivers sustainable solutions that harness microbial processes, indigenous algal strains, and bio-based technologies. From microbial process development to algal bioremediation and green hydrogen pathways, our work drives progress towards a circular, inclusive, and innovation-led bioeconomy.
Committed to African-led innovation and practical commercialisation, UVU Bio’s Product Development & Innovation unit empowers clients to accelerate product development, reduce costs, and achieve market entry with confidence – building a resilient and impactful biotech sector for Africa’s future.
Key Offerings
Microbial Process Development & Scale-Up
Develop sustainable microbial processes (fermentation and enzymatic systems) to produce bio-based products at scale (up to 200L), ready for market entry.
Bioremediation of Solid & Liquid Waste
Harness microbial and algal systems to treat and reclaim waste streams, embedding circular economy principles for environmental impact.
Algal Technology
Leverage local algal biodiversity for bioremediation, bioenergy production, and high-value products, creating scalable climate-resilient solutions.
Green Hydrogen
Develop biohydrogen production technologies and demonstrator systems to support Africa’s clean energy transition.
What This Means For You
- Scalable product development and rapid prototyping
- Technical excellence backed by 50+ years of industrial R&D expertise
- Sustainable, circular economy solutions
- Market entry support for commercialisation
- Local manufacturing of international microbial strains
Our Training Facilities
Kigali,
We have expanded our footprint with the opening of a new open access biotech lab in Rwanda. This facility is now operational and offers similar training programmes to support the growth of the biotech industry in the region.
Cape Town,
Why choose UVU Bio Labs?
Whether you’re developing the next breakthrough in sustainable food systems or advancing drug discovery, choose UVU Bio as your launchpad for success.
Join a dynamic community of innovators. Share ideas, form partnerships, and accelerate research in areas like alternative foods, fermentation, and drug discovery.
Focus on What Matters: We handle lab maintenance and equipment upkeep, allowing you to concentrate on your scientific breakthroughs.
Benchtop fermenters for large-scale cell cultures, ideal for alternative food production Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) systems for protein purification, crucial for drug discovery Ultra-low temperature storage in -80°C and -20°C freezers for biomaterial preservation Advanced equipment for nucleic acid and protein analysis to support all your research needs
Our labs are meticulously maintained to ensure a clean, safe, and professional environment for your research endeavours.
Our Team
UVU Bio’s R&D team consists of skilled scientists, researchers, and technicians specializing in industrial biotechnology, fermentation, and bioprocessing. Their diverse experience in academia, industry, and skills development fosters innovation and supports biotech entrepreneurs in bringing scientific advancements to market.
Trained Professionals
Active Participants
Employment Success
Completed Cohorts
Key Skills Sets Filter
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Who Can Benefit from Our Product Development & Innovation Services?
Our team of highly skilled scientists and industry experts specializes in bioprocess and product development across multiple systems, including microbial, tissue culture, and plant-based technologies. We primarily focus our research on, but our expertise extends beyond, the following areas:
Pharmaceuticals
Advancing drug development and biotherapeutics.
Renewable Energy & Biofuels
Innovating sustainable fuel and biogas solutions
Agriculture & Aquaculture
Enhancing crop yields, animal feed, and indigenous knowledge systems
Environmental Remediation & Waste Management
Recovering valuable products from liquid and solid waste
Cosmetics & Personal Care
Developing sustainable and natural bio-based ingredients.
Food & Beverage
Improving production processes and sustainable product development
Testimonials
Hear from our alumni and partners about their experiences
Partner With Us
Join us in our mission to enable a thriving African bioeconomy. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or organisation, there are numerous ways to partner with UVU Bio. Together, we can drive innovation, create jobs, and build a sustainable bioeconomy across the continent.
Our Partner & Funders
