research &
development
At Microinnova, research and development drive our mission to revolutionize chemical manufacturing. Through continuous exploration, strategic partnerships, and a passion for process intensification, we develop innovative methods and technologies that enhance efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability in process design and plant realization.
Driving Innovation
through Process Intensification and Flow Processing
Our team is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of continuous processing and modular plant design. With a strong foundation in science and engineering, we actively participate in internal, national, and international R&D projects alongside renowned partners. These collaborations expand our expertise and enable us to implement cutting-edge solutions in process development and plant construction. By engaging with a global research network, we stay at the forefront of technological advancements, ensuring that our solutions meet the evolving needs of modern chemical manufacturing. As we actively pursue advancements, our clients benefit from our relentless drive.
R&D Focus Areas
Advancing Modular Manufacturing
Modular Plants & MTP
At Microinnova, we are dedicated to driving innovation through modular plant systems and the Module Type Package (MTP) protocol. Our work emphasizes the transformative impact of MTP providing chemical engineers and researchers with the tools to rapidly design, test, and implement new processes.
MTP enables the seamless integration of experimental modules, allowing lab technicians or manufacturing engineers to configure and reconfigure setups efficiently without an automation engineer. This adaptability fosters innovation, shortens development cycles, and accelerates the transition from concept to production. By creating modular environments, we empower our clients to scale solutions in a fast and efficient way, allowing them to quickly meet customer demands.
Our expertise ensures that modular systems are optimized for safety, compliance, and sustainability in production. With MTP, you gain the flexibility to explore cutting-edge solutions while maintaining the precision and reliability essential for modern chemical manufacturing.
Fluorination
Our expertise in continuous fluorination processes allows for safer, more efficient production methods, overcoming challenges associated with handling hazardous materials in traditional batch processes, ranging from safety concerns and resource inefficiencies to environmental impact and compliance issues. Two kinds of fluorination we work with are nucleophilic fluorinations (for example with HF complexes, Balz-Schiemann or SF4) as well as electrophilic fluorinations (for example with F2).
Enzymatic Reactions
We excel in enzyme-catalyzed biotransformations. For example, a notable achievement is our research in O₂-dependent enzymatic transformations, demonstrating significant process intensification through continuous, single-phase pressurized flow or continuous transesterification.
Smart Manufacturing
Our commitment to smart manufacturing leverages advanced control strategies, digital integration, and process automation. Our research, such as the SynthesisControl project, explores innovative approaches to optimize production processes and digitalize them. Several projects demonstrate the execution of different unit operations, including continuous crystallization, extrusion of a pre-formulation and up to tablet pressing. These projects showcase the implementation of PAT Tools and the development of a Digital Twin for different processes.
Cutting-Edge Continuous Flow Photochemistry by Microinnova
Microinnova specializes in delivering innovative solutions that combine the advantages of continuous flow and photochemical reactions. Our comprehensive approach includes both process expertise and turnkey equipment, tailored to meet your specific production needs.
Why Continuous Flow Photochemistry?
This technology represents a paradigm shift in chemical synthesis, offering precise control over key reaction parameters such as:
- Light intensity
- Residence time
- Temperature
By optimizing these factors, we enable:
- Improved reproducibility
- Increased yields
- Enhanced selectivity
With automated operation and process control, our solutions ensure safer workflows and hassle-free operation, prioritizing safety and efficiency.
Advanced Photochemistry Technology
Microinnova utilizes a photochemistry screening system alongside a glass-type photoreactor system, specifically a side loop reactor, for lab-scale experiments. Our photoreactors can handle:
- Corrosive reactions
- Exothermic reactions
- Bi-phasic reactions
Featuring a full light spectrum with adjustable photon efficiency, our side loop reactor enables longer residence times, optimizing reaction performance. The insights gained from lab-scale experiments seamlessly translate into large-scale production, ensuring a smooth and efficient transition from development to implementation.
Current Projects
Advancing chemical manufacturing through innovation.
RCPE - TWIN4PHARMA
Microinnova Engineering is proud to be one of 18 partners in the TWIN4PHARMA project. Under the lead of RCPE, the project addresses the challenges faced by pharmaceutical companies in delivering products quickly and sustainably. The current development model, which relies on trial-and-error methods and conventional scale-up techniques can be significantly improved. Only 1 in 10,000 drug candidates makes it to market after 12 years, with development costs reaching € 2-3 billion.
Emerging digital technologies, such as AI and mechanistic modeling, can address these issues by speeding up sustainable process development, reducing failures, and making supply chains more resilient, increasing the potential for production to shift to Europe. Microinnova will significantly contribute to the TWIN4PHARMA project by applying our expertise in flow chemistry and process intensification. We will focus on identifying critical parameters essential for pharmaceutical manufacturing and scaling up flow processes to ensure efficiency and adaptability. Additionally, Microinnova will utilize its modular plant systems, including the FlowKiloLab®, to streamline the development and implementation of advanced flow processes. With our broad experience in flow chemistry, Microinnova is well-positioned to support innovative solutions and enhance the project’s success.
One part of the project focuses on advancing the understanding and optimization of continuous crystallization processes. It aims to develop predictive frameworks for assessing API crystal properties, including polymorphic forms and crystal habits. Another part of the project, automated processing using low chemistry, enhances precision and efficiency by using algorithms to optimize conditions and reduce empirical testing. This accelerates development and enhances scalability in manufacturing.
EU/IHI - PHARMECO
We are excited to announce the official launch of the ambitious PHARMECO project, co-funded by the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU) and coordinated by Ghent University (CESPE), together with Sanofi as industry project lead. This groundbreaking initiative aims to support the pharmaceutical industry in transitioning to more sustainable manufacturing practices. It will do so by introducing greener technologies and processes, applying sustainability steering methods throughout production, and standardizing sustainability evaluation approaches across the industry.
PHARMECO will address the production of small molecules, tides, biologics, and medical devices & technologies, with a key focus on:
- Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) platforms for early-stage pharmaceutical development
- Green processes for industrial-scale manufacturing and decontamination
- Advanced digital tools for sustainability assessment and decision-making
Microinnova is excited to join forces with 30 distinguished international partners through this alliance:
By collaborating across both industry and academia, we aim to achieve PHARMECO’s objectives.
Microinnova’s role in the project focuses on setting up pilot lines for unit operations and pharmaceutical manufacture to derisk and validate sustainable technology at a larger scale. Furthermore, Microinnova targets the development and manufacturing unit operations and pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment for a clinically relevant scale, easily transferable to a GMP environment.
PHARMECO is committed to setting a new benchmark for more sustainable manufacturing, creating a path towards a greener future that benefits both industry and society.
Stay tuned for updates as we work on adopting more sustainable practices in pharmaceutical manufacturing!
Contact information
- Dr. Dirk Kirschneck: dirk.kirschneck@microinnova.com
- Coordinator (Ghent University (CESPE)): sarah.costers@ugent.be
- Industry project lead (Sanofi): christian.schoenau@sanofi.com
- Website: www.pharmeco.eu (will go live on 16/12/2024)
- Follow us on LinkedIn: PHARMECO: About | LinkedIn
This project is supported by the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU) and its members under grant agreement No 101165889.
Successfully Completed Projects
Advancing chemical manufacturing through innovation.
At Microinnova, we take pride in our involvement in cutting-edge research and development projects that drive progress in process intensification, continuous manufacturing, digitalization and modular plant design. Our collaborations with renowned partners across Europe have resulted in innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability in chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Explore some of our successfully completed projects below.
RCPE – High Potency API
Together with RCPE and Patheon, Microinnova has worked in the field of Model Predictive Control and advanced control strategies, A Digital Twin was developed for different unit operations, metal organic synthesis, extraction and finally liquid-solid separation.
EU - MACBETH
We were proud to be one of the 27 partners with great experience and competencies in membrane technology who were “ united to successfully transfer the technological concept of highly efficient catalytic membrane reactor (CMR) to other sectors of the chemical industry.” with this EU project under the leadership of Evonik.
FFG – PharmComplete
Microinnova contributeed to the PharmComplete project under the leadership of RCPE, developing a digital twin for pharmaceutical manufacturing lines. Using model predictive control, machine learning, and PAT strategies, this project enhances process simulation, reduces waste, and ensures consistent product quality.
ACIB – Biocatalytic Reactions
In partnership with the Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Microinnova developed pressurized continuous flow plants for gas-dependent biocatalytic reactions, advancing environmentally friendly and efficient biotechnological processes.
CCFlow – Kappe Labs
As an industrial partner in Professor C. Oliver Kappe’s CCFlow project, Microinnova supported the development of efficient, safe, and sustainable continuous manufacturing processes for APIs through collaboration with academic and industrial institutions.
ONE-FLOW
The ONE-FLOW project focused on developing a digital flow cascade system to perform multiple reactions in a single continuous flow process. This innovative approach uses biomimetic self-assemblies and fluid structuring to optimize catalytic cascades.
BIOGO
The BIOGO project addressed the need for sustainable fuel production by developing biofuel synthesis processes to make Synfuels using modern technologies like nanocatalysts and innovative reactor designs. This modular lab plant approach supports the transition to greener energy solutions.
COPIRIDE
The CoPIRIDE project focused on developing a multifunctional plant platform that integrates process intensification and microstructured reactors in a flexible, container-based format. This innovation improves productivity, sustainability, and cost-efficiency based on modular plants.
CAEC – Separation Technology
In the Continuous Annular Electro-Chromatography (CAEC) project, Microinnova partnered with Novartis Pharma AG to develop advanced concepts for separation technology, enhancing efficiency and precision in pharmaceutical processes. This continuous chromatography plant uses Model Predictive Control (MPC)
COSMIC
The COSMIC project developed resource-efficient multiphase reactions using continuous sonication and microwave reactors. This approach integrates milli flow technology with ultrasound and microwave actuation to enhance synthesis processes including an economical evaluation.
FFG – SynthesisControl
List of Publications
Collaborating with leading minds and institutions
2025
A universal digital control concept for end-to-end manufacturing
2024
A modeling and control framework for extraction processes (API Purification)
2023
Continuous manufacturing as a tool for early- and late-stage fluorination of pharma & agro actives
Control of a complex multistep process for the production of mesalazine
2022
Advances in Continuous Flow Calorimetry
2021
Automated and continuous synthesis of drug substances
2020
2019
A Boost to Efficiency, Adaptability and Responsiveness
Continuous Processing – Is Flow Chemistry the Future of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing?
Industry 4.0 – the era of modular plants has begun?
2018
Flexible Continuous Manufacturing
Industry 4.0 Will Be A Game Changer for the Chemical Business
Polymer Batch vs. Continuous
Partners & Universities
Collaborating with leading minds and institutions
