ASU spinout Heliae debuts platform for large-scale algae production

A recent Biofuels Digest article spotlighted the launch of the large-scale algae production platform, Volaris, by the company Heliae.

Heliae, a 2008 spinout from Arizona State University, considers Volaris a game-changer that will enable large-scale production for diverse markets and provide a natural, sustainable and consistent supply of algae-based products to meet worldwide demand.

“Good science takes time,” said Dan Simon, Heliae’s president and CEO. “We’ve developed a technology platform that finally delivers on what the industry has been promising for more than a decade. With Volaris technology, we’re now able to offer algae solutions for a range of markets, which have not been possible with existing technology. This technology will unlock the industry.”

The new platform is a core piece of technology in Heliae’s intellectual property portfolio, which now includes more than 50 issued patents across the algae value chain, which makes it a top three U.S. patent holder in the algae space.

Volaris is expected to support significant growth and commercial activity in Heliae’s target markets, including nutrition, therapeutics, health and beauty, and agrosciences.

Volaris occupies an important role in Heliae’s new 20-acre commercial facility currently under construction in Gilbert, Ariz., slated to open in late 2013.