Eurogentec

In 1985, Eurogentec began as a spin-off from the University of Liège in Belgium. It was founded by university professors Joseph Martial and André Renard, who were joined by two industrialists, Jean-Claude Lahaut and Hubert Vandecapelle. Martial had returned from studying genetic engineering in California with the goal of commercializing research. The company's initial focus was on developing a genetically-engineered vaccine to improve fish breeding. The early years were challenging, but the company found its footing in 1987 when it started supplying oligonucleotides, which are short DNA or RNA molecules, to research laboratories. This move set the stage for its future. By the mid-1990s, Eurogentec had evolved into a contract manufacturing organization for the biopharmaceutical industry, producing proteins for clinical trials. A pivotal moment in the company's journey occurred in 2010 when the Japanese chemical company Kaneka acquired a majority stake in Eurogentec. This acquisition integrated the Belgian biotech firm into a larger, innovation-focused corporation, providing resources for further expansion. Today, now known as Kaneka Eurogentec, the company operates as a key global supplier of materials for the life science, diagnostic, and pharmaceutical markets, including being an FDA-inspected manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals.