Microorganism Propagation and Formulation

Microorganisms are at the heart of many industrial processes in the agrifood, environmental, and health sectors. Mastering their growth, scale-up, and stabilization directly determines the industrial performance of a product or process.

At Meurice R&D, we support companies in the propagation of bacteria and yeasts, high cell density culture, bioreactor scale-up, and stabilized formulation of strains, ensuring scientific rigor and industrial feasibility.

Our researchers and engineers are involved at every stage of development, from optimizing culture conditions to preservation and integration into a final matrix. 

Mastery of microbial culture and high cell density

Before any industrial application, understanding and controlling biological parameters are essential. Microorganisms follow defined growth phases, and their proliferation depends heavily on precise physicochemical conditions.

We intervene on:

• Optimization of critical parameters
  Control of temperature, pH, oxygenation, and nutrient availability to achieve controlled high cell density culture.
• Growth kinetics
  Monitoring of lag, exponential, and stationary phases to maximize cell yield.
• Adaptation to specific strains
  Working with bacteria and yeasts while taking their specific metabolic requirements into account.
• Scale-up
  Validation of growth protocols developed at small scale (2 or 10 liters) up to a 200-liter scale.

Stabilization, drying, and formulation of strains 

Once biomass is produced, preservation and stability become major challenges. We develop strategies for:

• Microbial stabilization
  Preservation of viability and biological activity.
• Drying and reduction of water activity
  Implementation of suitable drying processes (freeze-drying, fluidized bed drying, or spray drying) to improve the preservation and stability of strains.
• Formulation adapted to the final application
  Integration into a solid or liquid matrix while ensuring stability, growth recovery, and functional performance.

These approaches can also be applied to other biological products such as proteins or biological extracts.

Technical support and industrial feasibility

Microbial development requires advanced resources and technical expertise.

As a non-profit organization and recognized partner associated with the Haute École Lucia de Brouckère and the Labiris research center, Meurice R&D can facilitate access to innovation support mechanisms in the Brussels-Capital Region, Wallonia, and at the European level, subject to eligibility and budget availability.

• Brussels-Capital Region: Use of Innovation Vouchers (grants covering up to 75% of costs for SMEs).
• Walloon Region: Acceptance of Technology Vouchers (coverage of up to 50% or more depending on the voucher type).
• Collaborative Projects: Preparation of applications for regional or European project calls.

When these mechanisms are not applicable, we carry out all services as direct subcontracting.

Optimize your microbial processes

Microorganism propagation projects constitute a central step in the development of a high-performance bioprocess. Upstream, DNA modification and genetic optimization allow for the design of strains adapted to industrial objectives. Propagation and controlled fermentation in a bioreactor then ensure efficient production of biomass or molecules of interest, before leading to the steps of protein purification or formulation according to the intended application.

To discover this complete value chain, please also consult our pages dedicated to Microbiology and Genetic Engineering as well as Protein Purification, which detail the key steps leading from the gene to the final product.

Do you wish to develop a high cell density culture, secure a bioreactor scale-up, or stabilize a strain through adapted formulation?