Matís plays a leading role in a new and extensive multinational project that the European Union has decided to support for three years, AMYLOMICS. The first meeting of the project was held on Monday 28 March at Matís' headquarters in Reykjavík.
The amount of the grant is a total of ISK 390 million, of which ISK 72 million will go to Matís and a total of ISK 58 million to two other Icelandic companies. In addition, master's and doctoral students will work on projects related to Amylomics.
The AMYLOMICS project will utilize the diverse ecosystems of geothermal areas in Iceland to develop heat-resistant enzymes for use in the starch and sugar industries. Heat and acid resistance are essential properties in such industrial processes, but can be found in the enzymes of organisms in thermal areas.
Among the participants in AMYLOMICS is a French company Rocket Frères, which is one of the largest in Europe in the production of starch and derivatives, with an annual turnover of about 7 billion euros. Roquette Frères will be able to use enzymes that will be developed in the project to improve processes and innovate in its production. Some of the enzymes will be marketed by the start-up company Prokazyme for use in a variety of sugar industries.
- Dr. Guðmundur Óli Hreggviðsson, subject manager at Matís, will be project manager. Two other Icelandic companies, directly involved in the project, Roche Nimblegen and Prokazyme.
The project and the EU's support for it are good news for the Icelandic scientific community and recognition for Matís. EU research grants are highly sought after and highly competitive. With this, Matís becomes even more established in international scientific co-operation, and of course it is a special gift for Icelanders to now receive substantial funds into society from abroad during these times of recession and austerity.
For further information dr. Guðmundur Óli Hreggviðsson.