Purdue visiting researcher to promote and market all-natural skin cream to retailers, distributors in Miami
June 11, 2015
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., MIAMI, and MEDELLIN, Colombia - Distributors and retailers of cosmetic, skin care and natural products will come together June 15-19 in Miami to meet several Colombian companies, including one led by a Purdue University visiting scholar.
German Schäfer, a Colombian/German entrepreneur, biodiversity and drug discovery scientist, developed with his team the all-natural IDONA Revitalizing Skin Cream with saponins from native plants and sustainable Andean horticulture for the startup BioProcol - Biodiverse Chemistry, which he founded in 2004. He will represent the company during meetings organized by ProColombia, a government agency that promotes non-traditional Colombian exports, foreign investment in Colombia and international tourism.
"The purpose of the meetings is to introduce Colombian enterprises with specialized cosmeceutic, dermocosmetic, organic and natural skin care product distributors and retailers that might be interested in our innovations and unique products under the IDONA - Ideas of Nature brand for the Florida market," he said. "Colombia has a free trade agreement with the United States, and the program seeks to foster economic exchange and grow Colombian exports to the U.S. This series of meetings is a fantastic opportunity for the company and the country."
Schäfer is refining the IDONA Revitalizing Skin Cream and exploring new pharmaceutical, dermatological and nutritional applications for his technologies at Purdue with Michael Ladisch, distinguished professor of agricultural and biological engineering and director of the Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering. He also is working with business experts at the Purdue Foundry to evaluate the best path to introduce, transfer, distribute and commercialize BioProcol's products and technologies in the United States.
"It has been terrific to work with professor Ladisch, whose expertise is highly regarded in several sectors. I'm sure that with his guidance and wisdom, we have the best advice to bring Colombian biodiversity to the world. Doing science and R&D for human health and well-being, and using properly our renewable resources translates in social innovation and prosperity for our community and globally," Schäfer said. "Purdue Foundry has helped me to explore strategies to introduce the product and to create a location for BioProcol at Purdue Research Park. It has been a great experience working with its committed president and staff."
About Purdue Foundry
The Purdue Foundry is an entrepreneurship and commercialization hub in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship whose professionals help Purdue innovators create startups. The Purdue Foundry is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2014 Incubator Network of the Year from the National Business Incubation Association for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org
Source: German Schäfer, 201-313-6573, gschafer@bioprocol.com
Writer: Steve Martin, 765-588-3342, sgmartin@prf.org
