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Specific results of TOP assignees per sectors: Energy Shell is the leading company in patenting. Interestingly, the next important player is a research institution: the University of Arizona. The US company Sapphire Energy with 4 patent families is specialised in algal biofuels. It has big open ponds located in New Mexico. American companies are main players in marine biofuels: in contrast to most European countries, they have no problems with investments and benefit from widespread acceptance of genetic engineering. Energy from marine micro-organisms (mostly algae and Cyanobacteria) can only be profitable with optimal temperature and light conditions (much better in New Mexico than in the cold and dark European winters). Additionally, genetically modified organisms enhance the yield of oil-production. The only economically viable use of non-genetically modified organisms is to combine their use for different applications. The field of bioenergy is in non-European hands. There are only some minor inventors from European countries, who patent together with big companies in the US or Asia. Study in support of Impact Assessment work on Blue Biotechnology 111

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