英国石油(BP)与Martek BioSCiences (MATK)宣布签署联合开发协议，将制造生质燃料所需
微生物石油。结盟关系结合广泛技术平台和营运能力，以推动开发阶梯式改变技术，将这堂转变为生质柴油。根据为期数年协议，Martek和英国石油将共同努力建立大规模节省成本的微生物生质柴油概念证实；在初期合作阶段，BP同意出资1000万美元，发挥MATK的生产微生物石油专长与英国石油生产与商业销售生质燃料的经验。
新浪财经讯 北京时间周二晚间消息，英国石油公司(BP)宣布，已与Martek Biosciences(MATK)达成了一项联合开发协议，将合作开发将糖转化为生物柴油的技术。
BP已同意为初始阶段合作贡献至多1000万美元。
协议执行前已有的知识产权将由两公司各自分别保留，而协议期间开发的所有知识产权将归BP所有，Martek则将在营养、
化妆和医药应用的申请和商业化方面拥有独家许可权。
BP to fund Martek research on biodiesel
* BP to fund $10 million for initial phase
* Deal latest tie-up of an energy giant, biofuel maker
* Martek yet to find microbe for sugar conversion (Updates with stock move, industry background, additional deal details, analyst comment, byline)
By Ernest Scheyder
NEW YORK, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Oil giant BP Plc (BP.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Martek Biosciences Corp (MATK.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) are forming a partnership to study the use of algae to convert sugar into biodiesel, the companies said on Tuesday.
The deal is the latest in a series of research agreements between multinational energy companies and start-up alternative fuel makers as the industry looks for ways to diversify its supply base.
If successfully commercialized, the BP-Martek tie-up will let both companies use algae to turn biomass refuse, such as sugar cane and wood chips, into biodiesel that can be used to power vehicles or further refined into cosmetic or pharmaceutical applications.
The challenge for Martek is to find algae or related microbes that will convert biomass into fuel. The company does not currently have a microbe strain that performs that function.
"It's going to take a lot of work to get the right organism," Steve Dubin, Martek's chief executive, told Reuters.
Converting biomass to fuel is an expensive venture, and finding the right microbe could potentially help lower costs.
London-based BP will initially contribute $10 million to the project, and Columbia, Maryland-based Martek will conduct the research and development.
"As an alternative to conventional vegetable oils, we believe sugar-to-diesel technology has the potential to deliver economic, sustainable and scalable biodiesel supplies," Philip New, the chief executive of BP Biofuels, said in a statement.
Each company will retain intellectual property rights owned before the partnership. BP will own the rights to any research conducted during the partnership, though Martek will have an exclusive license to commercialize the research.
While the deal is promising, DA Davidson & Co analyst Timothy Ramey said it resembles a "man on Mars" proposition simply because Martek does not yet have the technology to convert biomass to biofuel.
"Is this a new business? The answer is no," said Ramey, who rates Martek's stock "underperform."
Patents and supply contracts for many of Martek's products expire in 2011, so the company need to find new sources of revenue, he said.
Because Martek isn't putting up any cash, the deal with BP "sounds like a no-lose," Ramey said.
The partnership follows several other recent agreements between energy giants and biofuel operators.
Exxon Mobil (XOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) inked a $600 million partnership with Synthetic Genomics last month to develop transportation fuel from algae.
Dow Chemical and Algenol Biofuels said last June they would study ways to use algae to turn carbon dioxide into ethanol.
DuPont (DD.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) already has several biofuels agreements with BP, as well as other energy companies.
In morning trading shares of BP fell 29 cents to $50.91 while shares of Martek rose 36 cents to $24.21. (Reporting by Ernest Scheyder, editing by Gerald E. McCormick and John Wallace)
作者：
2009-8-13