创新企业之星

OPX生物技术公司

公司收入：不详

公司总部：科罗拉多州博尔德

所属行业：可再生化学品

成立时间：2007年

员工人数：47人

    大部分人把大肠杆菌当作是致病细菌，但是OPX公司的视角却与众不同。总部位于博尔德的这家生物技术公司把经过基因方法改造的大肠杆菌与玉米和甘蔗进行混合，生产一系列的农作物化工产品，替代成本高昂的石油化工产品。该公司的首个产品是生物丙烯酸——石油丙烯酸的替代品——广泛应用于油漆、粘合剂和尿片生产。最近，OPX公司获得了3，650万美元的风险投资，并宣布与陶氏化学公司（Dow Chemical）建立了合作伙伴关系。它计划在2014年建成首个规模化工厂。CEO查斯•艾格特称，丙烯酸的全球产值为80亿美元，年增长率为3%至4%。他说：“我们的目标是成为世界可再生化工产品行业的领袖，并涉足多个领域。”即便如此，在这个热门领域，该公司面临着来自生物基化学公司Genomatica和BioAmber公司的激烈竞争。

    ——理查德•麦吉尔•墨菲

OPX Biotechnology

Revenue: Not available

Headquarters: Boulder, Colo.

Industry: Renewable chemicals

Founded: 2007

Employees: 47

    Most people think of e-coli as a yucky bacteria that can make you sick, but that's not how OPX sees it. The Boulder-based biotech blends genetically engineered e-coli with corn or sugarcane to produce a range of plant-based chemicals that replace more expensive petroleum-based compounds. The company's first commercial product is bioacrylic, a sub for petroleum-based acrylic acid, a common ingredient in paints, adhesives, and diapers. OPX recently raised $36.5 million in venture capital and recently announced a partnership with Dow Chemical. It plans to open its first industrial-scale plant in 2014. According to CEO Chas Eggert, the global market for acrylic acid is about $8 billion, growing at an annual rate of 3% to 4%. "We want to be the world leader in renewable chemicals, with a broad portfolio," he says. Even so, the company operates in a crowded field with tough competition from Genomatica and BioAmber.

    --R.M.M.