The Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP) positions itself as a one-stop-shop within the bioeconomy. Companies and research institutions can go to the open-innovation pilot plant for process development, scaling up and custom manufacturing of bio-based products and processes. This concept includes the valorisation of renewable raw materials, side streams or residual streams and even (greenhouse) gases into refined end products via industrial biotechnology._x000D_ The production and development of microbial proteins has been on the rise in recent years. Microbial proteins have a very broad scope of application in the food, cosmetic, medical and diagnostic industries. The list of protein-based applications is endless, as is the potential of their microbial production._x000D_ Due to the high need for protein diversification, BBEPP's demand for scaling up fermentation and purification processes of sustainably produced microbial protein has increased enormously in recent years. The production of microbial protein requires up to 100 times less land and up to 30 times less water than animal protein production. In addition to logistical benefits, it also results in a further reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In order to accelerate the industrialisation of such innovative processes and to meet the high demand, BBEPP will invest in the Bio Base Advance project in additional equipment for the purification of microbial protein from the fermentation medium, as well as in infrastructure for the local and effective treatment and analysis of the process waters produced by this process._x000D_ The new infrastructure will be equipped with automation and state-of-the-art sensors to enable process monitoring, control and modelling and therefore also a life cycle and techno-economic analysis starting from fermentation to wastewater treatment. This is to validate the expected lower environmental footprint._x000D_ This will fully extend BBEPP’s one-stop-shop concept and further expand Flemish research and innovation capacity. By offering BBEPP open access pilot infrastructure and the associated expertise, our partners can bridge their Valley of Death and translate their innovations in the field of microbial protein into industrial realizations. For example, ‘Smart Flanders’ can further manifest itself as a leading region in terms of technological research, and as an ‘Innovation Leader’ (Regional Innovation Scoreboard). In a broader context, and in collaboration with research centres, start-ups, SMEs and major industrial players, the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant contributes to the economic valorisation of research and development, thus contributing to the global transition to a more sustainable economy._x000D_