Agricultural companies
When we started this project, it took us a few weeks to decide what would be our focus of interest. To strengthen our ideas we looked for companies related to agriculture and that had vegetable waste to find out how they treated it, and thus gather ideas for our project. We had different meetings with local companies, and we learned what is currently being done with this waste. Thus we began our journey into the business world.
PTA
Continuing our search for companies interested in our project, we visited the AndalusianTechnological Park (PTA), where we had a first contact with companies interested in taking our idea further. During this visit, we got to know the work of CADE PTA - Andalucía Emprende, who advised us on the steps we should follow if we set up as a company. In addition, they advised and supported us in the search for investors for our project.
An industrial scale use
On the other hand, and as a way to apply our project to a multitude of companies, we devised a bioreactor model applicable to different sizes depending on the volumes to be treated. Our trials on the mathematical models confirms that our idea is possible, and the rates could be exploited on an industrial scale as a bioreactor.
City council and press conference
In addition, we contacted the city council of our city, Malaga, and together with them and our university we held a press conference to which we invited many biotech companies from different sectors. We were looking to expand the concept of iGEM and our project, as well as to find companies interested in applying our model at an industrial level.