TWB is taking a strategic turn to accelerate the development of industrial biotechnology
TWB, an expert in managing industrial biotechnology R&D projects and a developer of sustainable solutions, announces the launch of TWB 4.0, a new support model designed to accelerate innovation and enhance the impact of industrial biotechnology. The result of a year of work with its partners and clients, TWB 4.0 aims to better meet the needs of manufacturers and startups by offering a partnership framework that is more personalized, more collaborative, and more action-oriented.
Built on three pillars, namely, a segmented offering, ecosystem innovation, and increased support for startups, TWB is currently implementing a major strategic transformation of its consortium and strengthening its core scientific and technological capabilities through the use of modeling, AI, and high-speed internet*.
More flexible support to accelerate innovation
By fostering greater engagement and delivering a clear return on investment, TWB aims to meet the needs of companies in the biotech sector with a comprehensive and innovative solution. Tailored, multi-level support (Synergist, Catalyst, Pioneer, Techno providers) adapted to each partner’s maturity, type, and objectives allows us to offer differentiated pathways based on profiles (start-ups, manufacturers, technology providers).
“Until now, the level of support provided has been based primarily on the size of the companies. However, this criterion does not always reflect their operational reality: some companies are exploring biotechnology with limited human resources, while others already have established teams and advanced expertise. We have redesigned our model to take into account several criteria, such as scientific maturity, industrial objectives, and internal resources, in order to tailor our support more precisely.”, explains Pascal Chapon, Executive Director of TWB.
Organized into four service categories (scientific and experimental, strategic, financial, and networking), the new model—rooted in science and technology—facilitates collaboration through mechanisms such as pre-negotiation of intellectual property rights, rapid contract execution, priority access to TWB platforms and expertise, and the conduct of feasibility studies.
A core business enhanced by artificial intelligence
TWB has also expanded its support services by incorporating complementary expertise sought after by manufacturers, such as life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analyses, which are now offered through specialized partners.
Furthermore, through its acceleration platforms, TWB aims to be a pioneer in integrating modeling and artificial intelligence into industrial biotechnology. The European Bioindustry 4.0 project, of which the organization is a partner, is a prime example: it aims to accelerate the digital transformation of industrial biotechnology toward smart bio-manufacturing.
Since data is central to the effectiveness of these models, TWB is strengthening its data management capabilities by partnering with iMEAN to design a new data architecture that will improve the usability of data from its broadband equipment.
Communities of interest for true open innovation
Following the example of what was created for sustainable mobility with Movin’On, TWB is betting on ecosystem-based innovation and launching the first industrial biotech communities of interest to co-create the biosolutions of tomorrow.
These communities are based on a rigorous vision of open innovation: one in which multiple organizations—including manufacturers, researchers, startups, and investors—sometimes from different sectors, collaborate to solve shared challenges and develop solutions that no single player would dare to pursue alone.
“For a long time at TWB, what we called ‘open innovation’ was based mainly on bilateral collaborations,” explains Pascal Chapon. “With TWB 4.0, we want to take it a step further. True open innovation involves bringing together multiple stakeholders facing the same challenge to work together. The idea is not to create yet another “think tank,” but a “think & do tank”: identifying the challenges to be addressed, building coalitions of stakeholders, and taking swift action.”
By combining collective thinking with experimentation, TWB aims to accelerate the development of high-impact collaborative projects in industrial biotechnology by optimizing resources and sharing risks. This approach has helped re-engage long-standing industrial partners in this new format, while attracting new participants.
Smart-Up Ventures : Enhanced Support for Biotech Startups
With a high success rate, TWB is solidifying its role in supporting startups and aims to take things even further. Over the past ten years, startups supported by TWB have achieved a 90% success rate at the five-year mark and raised over €200 million in funding (including Aviwell, €11 million in 2025, and Pili, €14.5 million in 2023). With Smart-Up Ventures, TWB is strengthening its support system by adding a business dimension to complement its scientific and technological support.
This new initiative will draw in particular on the expertise of three startup studios (4Elements, Technofounders, and Agrilife Studio) as well as the Toulouse Tech Transfer technology transfer office.
“Until now, TWB has provided recognized scientific and technical support. By adding a business dimension through our new partners, startups now have access to complementary expertise—in areas such as administration, marketing, and finance—that meets all their needs”, explains Pascal Chapon.
By 2027, TWB aims to host and support around 15 startups. To achieve this goal, the ecosystem will be able to rely in particular on the future Halle Pilote, a 15,000-square-meter technology hub dedicated to biotechnology and led by INSA Toulouse, which is scheduled to open in the second half of 2027.
*High-throughput refers to the ability to analyze a large number of samples simultaneously (a batch of at least 96 samples) using automation and advanced technologies.