Biotechnological research at BOKU is based on the integration of biosciences and process engineering – with the aim of refining and utilizing biological and chemical raw materials, cells, and organisms. The end products are commodities such as food and animal feed, organic basic and fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals (biologics), active ingredients as well as bio-composites and functionalized nanoparticles. BOKU is the only university in Austria that researches all biotechnologically relevant prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms and covers the entire biotechnological process chain, from bioinformatic analysis and editing of genes, structural and functional characterization, engineering and modelling of biomolecules, cell engineering to bioprocess engineering (upstream and downstream processing) and quality control of products. 

Future research focuses on the design and production of innovative biologics (e. g. immunotherapeutics, vaccines, cell therapies in the fight against cancer, strategies for regenerative medicine); the increased use of systems biology findings as a basis for the design and development of new synthetic biological concepts; enzyme, cell, and metabolic engineering for the production of valuable substances; the digitalization of bioprocesses and model-based process development with increased use of artificial intelligence and machine learning; the development of diagnostic procedures and biosensors; as well as food-grade cell factories.