Suitable parallel technologies could shorten the development times considerably and spare resources.

The project partners jointly developed a new system for high-throughput-bioprocessdesign. It allows the simultaneous and automatic performing of 48 fermentations in disposable bioreactors under controlled conditions. Advantageous for a simple handling, the bioreactors with a working volume of 5 - 10 mL are delivered with a sterile packaging. The particular design of the stirrers lead to such high oxygen transfer rates that even high cell density fer- mentations are possible in the milliliter standard - an essential prerequisite for the successful up and down-scaling of industrial processes.

With the help of optical sensors, pH measurement as well as dissolved oxygen measurement are seamlessly integrated in the disposable bioreactors. An integrated customary laboratory robot provides automated substrate and base addition for pH control, as well as sampling. A new process control system and software supports all activities from experimental planning over process control to data logging and evaluation.

The achieved high automation degree in combination with the massively parallel experiments leads to a still unattained efficiency increase in bioprocess development. Time and resources are saved and the establishing of sustainable biotechnological processes is advanced.