BioBond Secures Licensing Deal with Purdue Innovates to Advance Biodegradable Adhesive Technologies

BioBond Adhesives, Inc., a materials science company focused on sustainable adhesives and coatings, has executed a licensing agreement with Purdue Innovates’ Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC). The deal grants BioBond access to multiple patent applications in the biomaterials field, enabling the company to pursue biodegradable alternatives to traditional petroleum-based adhesives and coatings used in consumer packaging.

Located in Lafayette, Indiana, BioBond is the second portfolio company launched by Big Idea Ventures’ Generation Food Rural Partners I, LP (GFRP) Fund. The Fund specializes in investing in agriculture, food, and protein technologies to create companies that commercialize intellectual property while generating living-wage jobs in rural communities.

Marc McConnaughey, CEO of BioBond, emphasized the environmental importance of the partnership: "Petroleum-based adhesives and coatings are a major source of VOCs and microplastics and are in need of innovative solutions which reduce our day-to-day exposure. I am pleased and excited to partner with Purdue in bringing these needed technologies to the market."

Frank Klemens, managing director of the GFRP Fund, highlighted the strategic alignment between the Fund and Purdue University: "Working with truly innovative professors and inventors allows GFRP to create new companies in the difficult areas of agriculture, materials and food. In addition to supporting the commercialization of IP, the Fund places these new companies in rural America, creating living-wage jobs in underrepresented regions. Many of these professors are at Purdue and locating BioBond in a rural area in Indiana near the university was a win-win for the GFRP fund and for rural America. GFRP looks forward to a long, fruitful relationship with Purdue's team of professional innovators for many years to come."

Brooke Beier, senior vice president of Purdue Innovates, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: "It has been great working with the Generation Food Rural Partners Fund. We are excited to work with BioBond in advancing the field of sustainable packaging to help solve some important global challenges. This license is further proof that industry and academia can work together to advance technologies to improve people's lives around the world."

BioBond specializes in developing biopolymer compounds designed to replace petroleum-based adhesives and coatings, aiming to reduce plastic waste and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehydes in the environment. The company’s headquarters in Lafayette positions it close to Purdue University, facilitating ongoing collaboration.

Generation Food Rural Partners (GFRP) is an RBIC-licensed investment fund focused on economic growth in rural U.S. communities. It is backed by members of the Farm Credit System, including Farm Credit Services of America, CoBank, Compeer Financial, and Mid-America Farm Credit. GFRP is part of Big Idea Ventures (BIV), a global FoodTech investor with offices in New York, Paris, and Singapore, managing over 100 companies across 30 countries.

Purdue Innovates’ Office of Technology Commercialization supports Purdue University’s economic development by commercializing, licensing, and protecting university intellectual property. In fiscal year 2024, the office finalized 145 deals involving 224 technologies, received 466 invention disclosures, and secured 290 U.S. and international patents. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, a private nonprofit entity advancing Purdue’s mission.

This licensing agreement marks a significant step toward commercializing sustainable adhesive technologies that address environmental concerns associated with traditional petroleum-based products. It also exemplifies the synergy between academic innovation and rural economic development initiatives.