Biotech Decoded
Essential knowledge for non-scientists
A concise, hands-on course designed for professionals without a biotechnology background who work in or with the biotech sector. Understand the fundamentals, why biotech is unique, and how it shapes today's major societal and industrial challenges.
Hands-on
Interactive sessions with real-world biotech cases
The first edition is currently fully booked. Leave your details below to be contacted when a second edition is scheduled.
Target audience
This course is designed for non-biotechnologists, such as:
- Professionals starting to work in a biotechnology company
- Professionals working in or with the biotech sector, including regulators, policy makers, investors, and business professionals
Course characteristics
- Two modules of 3 hours each.
- In-person training in small groups (6-10 participants).
- Each module combines lectures with interactive discussions on current news and real-world cases.
- Topics are linked to participants' professional contexts.
- Each module the participants will visit a biotech company located at Biotech Campus Delft.
Course modules
Biotech Setting the Scene
Learning objectives
- Describe what biotechnology is.
- Understand why biotechnology is important in addressing global challenges.
- Identify current applications of biotechnology related to planetary health and innovation.
- Recognize the business, innovation, and technology landscape of the biotech market.
Topics
- Definitions of biotechnology.
- Biotechnology domains with real-world examples.
- The biotech value chain: inputs (feedstocks), processes (cells), and products.
- The size of the biotech sector and key industry players.
- Microbial diversity, cells and cell components of industrial relevance.
- Current innovation areas in biotechnology.
- Societal impact: sustainability, GMO regulations, and consumer acceptance.
Biotech: Preparing for Market Introduction
Learning objectives
- Recognize the main process steps involved in producing a biotech product.
- Understand the technological steps from laboratory to pilot, demo, and commercial scale.
- Identify the main cost drivers of a biotech product.
- Identify the key drivers for successful market introduction.
Topics
- Main steps in a biotech production process.
- Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and scaling from technical to commercial scale.
- The role of Techno-Economic Assessments (TEAs) in process development and scale-up.
- The roadmap of a biotech innovation (Part I): TRLs and financing.
- The roadmap of a biotech innovation (Part II): business framework, IP, regulation, policy, and market acceptance.
Pricing
This first edition of Biotech Decoded is offered as a pilot course. Pilot pricing has been applied.
excluding VAT
excluding VAT, 10% discount. Applicable to asr, dsm-firmenich, TU Delft, Municipality of Delft, Province of South Holland and InnovationQuarter.
excluding VAT, 40% discount
excluding VAT, 50% discount
Details
Dates & Time
- Session 1: Friday, 27 March | 13:00 - 16:00
- Session 2: Friday, 17 April | 13:00 - 16:00
Location
Beijerinck Center, Biotech Campus Delft
Dr. Maria C. Cuellar
Maria C. Cuellar is a biotechnology professional with more than 20 years of experience in industrial biotechnology and innovation. Having held leadership positions in industry and academia, and worked with multinationals and start-ups, she now operates as independent consultant. Across her career, she has consistently translated complex biotechnology concepts into clear, relevant insights for non-technical audiences, making her an engaging and practical guide for this course.
Interested in the next edition?
The course is currently fully booked. Leave your details to be contacted as soon as a second edition is scheduled.
