sources : https://www.biomimetx.com/en/pages/benefits-of-bmx-11

Biofouling, the unwanted buildup of algae, barnacles, and other marine organisms on ship hulls and underwater structures remains one of the most persistent and costly challenges in the maritime industry. It increases fuel consumption, raises maintenance costs, accelerates corrosion, and drives higher CO₂ emissions. Traditional antifouling solutions rely heavily on toxic biocides such as copper compounds and synthetic chemicals, which not only harm marine ecosystems but are also facing tightening environmental regulations worldwide. Ship operators, aquaculture companies, and paint manufacturers are therefore under mounting pressure to find safer, compliant, and more sustainable alternatives that do not sacrifice performance. BioMimetx bridges this critical gap through BMX-11, a biotechnology-based antifouling additive derived from naturally occurring marine bacteria. By harnessing bioactive molecules with antimicrobial, algaecide, and larvicidal properties, BioMimetx offers a biodegradable, broad-spectrum, and regulatory-friendly alternative to traditional toxic coatings. When blended into marine paints or coatings, BMX-11 delivers long-lasting protection against fouling while minimizing ecological impact, helping shipowners reduce fuel use, extend maintenance cycles, and transition toward a cleaner, more sustainable ocean economy.

BioMimetx S.A. was founded with the vision of harnessing biochemical tools found in nature to help solve industrial problems particularly in marine environments, where biofouling imposes heavy economic and environmental costs. The company collects and characterizes bacterial strains from the environment that naturally produce molecules with antimicrobial, larvicidal, or algaecide activity. They develop these molecules into additive technologies that can be incorporated into paints, nets, and other submerged surfaces.  Over time, BioMimetx has progressed from proof-of-concept stages toward pilot testing and regulatory steps. It has also explored extending its antimicrobial additive technology beyond marine uses into indoor paints and antiviral/antibacterial surfaces. 

BioMimetx was founded by Patrick Freire, Gonçalo da Costa, and Romana Santos, three Portuguese scientists who share a passion for applying biotechnology to environmental challenges. Patrick Freire, who serves as Executive Director and COO, has a strong background in molecular biology and microbial biotechnology, with extensive experience in translating laboratory discoveries into industrial applications. Gonçalo da Costa, the company’s Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), is a biochemist whose research focuses on marine microorganisms and their bioactive compounds; he leads BioMimetx’s scientific development and innovation strategy. Romana Santos, a marine biologist and academic researcher, contributed her expertise in marine ecology and microbiology to the company’s scientific foundation and early-stage R&D. Together, the founders combined their complementary expertise in biology, chemistry, and business to create BioMimetx in Portugal, with the goal of developing natural, sustainable antifouling solutions inspired by marine ecosystems.

BMX-11 is BioMimetx’s flagship “green” antifouling additive designed to be incorporated into marine paints and coatings for use on ship hulls, nets, aquaculture equipment, and other submerged or aquatic structures.  The active components of BMX-11 are natural molecules produced by a proprietary environmental bacterium (identified in BioMimetx’s R&D as PF-11), which secretes a mixture of proteins, peptides, metabolites, and possibly other compounds with antimicrobial, algaecide, and larvicidal activities.  In formulation, BMX-11 is stabilised in paint so that it remains active over extended periods under marine exposure. In static sea tests, a paint containing about 5% BMX-11 (as the sole biocide) showed efficacy of up to 6 months against slime and algae and up to 8 months against tubeworms. 

When the additive leaches out into the water (which is part of how antifouling works), BMX-11 is designed to degrade relatively quickly: once released, its active compounds are biodegradable and pose much lower risk to non‐target organisms compared to traditional biocides like copper or synthetic boosters. 

Other key benefits / properties include:

• Regulatory compliance: Designed to meet stricter environmental and regulatory standards; lower toxic load. 
• Broad spectrum antifouling activity: tackles various fouling organisms, including microbes (slime), algae, and marine invertebrates (e.g. tubeworms). This broad activity means that it can replace or reduce reliance on multiple different biocides. 
• Adaptability: the additive can be formulated into different marine paint formulations and used in diverse submerged surfaces (hulls, nets, aquaculture). 
• Environmental safety: improved environmental toxicity profile, reduced risk of accumulation of harmful substances, less frequent cleaning, reduced fuel consumption due to lower drag. 

BioMimetx has secured funding from a mix of venture capital firms, family offices, and public grant programs, primarily based in Portugal and the European Union. In its seed round in May 2016, the company raised €1.6 million, with Caixa Capital leading the round, and Inter capital and Teak Capital co-investing. Earlier, BioMimetx was also awarded €100,000 from Caixa Capital through the COHiTEC/ACT by COTEC acceleration program, used for patent registration and initial product development. More recently, in December 2022 BioMimetx also secured a €500,000 investment from Indico Capital Partners, supported by the Google for Startups Growth Program, as part of Indico’s broader €4.6 million to five early-stage companies spanning AI and the blue economy.

Final Thoughts

BioMimetx is a compelling example of how nature-inspired biotechnology can offer sustainable alternatives to traditional industrial chemicals. Through their principal product, BMX-11, they aim to disrupt the marine coatings sector by offering a biodegradable, lower-toxicity antifouling additive that can reduce reliance on harsher biocides. The scientific foundation (bacteria-derived molecules) combined with a pathway toward commercialization positions them well in the “blue economy” space.

References

Official Website – BioMimetx S.A. https://www.biomimetx.com/

Team Page – BioMimetx https://www.biomimetx.com/en/team

Caixa Capital Leads €1.6M Seed Round in BioMimetx – Medium / Caixa Capital (2016) https://medium.com/caixa-capital/caixa-capital-leads-1-6-million-seed-round-in-biomimetx-cbe3365febc0

Indico Capital Partners – Founders Interview: Patrick Freire and Gonçalo Costa of BioMimetx
https://indicocapital.medium.com/founders-interviews-patrick-friere-and-gon%C3%A7alo-costa-of-biomimetx-9a96074deccf

PitchBook – BioMimetx Company Profile https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/106974-10

COTEC Portugal – BioMimetx and NanoInspire financed with €100,000 each (Dinheiro Vivo)
https://dinheirovivo.dn.pt/biomimetx-e-nanoinspire-financiados-com-100-mil-euros-cada-12663497.html

Portugal Startups – BioMimetx Closed €1.6M Round (2016) https://www.portugalstartups.com/2016/05/biomimetx-closed-e-16-million-round/

CORDIS – EU Project Reports on BioMimetx (Project ID 767667) https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/767667/reporting/es

Fenix Técnico Lisboa – Extended Abstract on BioMimetx Research
https://fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/downloadFile/1689244997258356/Extended%20abstract%20-%20Raquel.pdf

Tec Labs – BioMimetx Pilot with Grow José de Mello https://teclabs.pt/tec-labs-news/biomimetx-pilot/

Labiotech.eu – Biodegradable Antifouling from BioMimetx https://www.labiotech.eu/startup-scout/biomimetx-biodegradable-antimicrobial/

Caixa Capital – Seal of Excellence from European Commission https://caixacapital.pt/biomimetx-gets-seal-of-excellence-from-the-european-commission/

Contributor : Dyah Ayuning Tyas

Reviewer      : Imam Buchari