University spin-offs or companies derived from research are business initiatives promoted by one or more members of the community university, and created to exploit the knowledge and results obtained through research activity at the university.

The company Darwin Bioprospectin Excellence, S.L., founded in 2016, was promoted by researchers Manuel Porcar Miralles and Juli Peretó Magraner, currently assigned to the Institute of Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), a mixed center of the University of Valencia (UV) and the Higher Council for Scientific Research, and by Mercedes Pamblanco Rodríguez, Teaching and Research Staff of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the UV.

Located in the UV Science Park, Darwin is an innovative company with extensive experience whose activity is carried out in the biotechnology sector and focuses mainly on applied microbiology. DARWIN develops R&D activities and projects for clients seeking à la carte microbial solutions (bioprospecting of microorganisms with applications of interest in the food, biomedical, or agricultural industries, among others).

The company exploits advanced knowledge in microbial ecology and synthetic biology, generated through the research activity of Manuel Porcar Miralles. This knowledge, transferred by the UV to Darwin, allows the company to develop and market services and products for particular market niches, such as the industrial production of high added value molecules (i.e.: pigments, carotenoids and other metabolites with antioxidant activity), as well as biopesticides.

DARWIN's business model is based mainly on the provision of services, in the following business areas:

DARWIN's business model is based mainly on the provision of services, in the following business areas:

•Microbial sequencing: Identification and quantification of microbial species present through the sequencing of the total DNA of a given sample.

•Food starters: Development or selection of starters to make fermented foods (such as kefir, beer, wine or sourdough bread) that give the product the organoleptic characteristics desired by the customer.

•Probiotics: Selection of probiotic microorganisms both for use in humans and animals. In addition to having a wide collection of strains, strains with specific activities are also developed according to customer demand.

•Energy and environment: Analysis of the composition of microbial communities, bioremediation of contaminated waters and environments, optimization of organic farming or improvement of biogas production.

Darwin also markets its own products, such as microbial strains with biological activities of interest, and food products based on microorganisms and microbial consortia

The recognition of Darwin as a Spin-off of the University of Valencia and the participation of the UV in the company enhance the collaboration model between both entities, regulated through the Support and Recognition Agreement as a Spin-off.

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The University recognizes the company Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence, S.L. as a spin-off