EBRD Highlights LAUIH Collaboration with DLOC Biosystems

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development highlighted the role of the LAU Industrial Hub in supporting DLOC Biosystems, a Lebanese biotech startup developing advanced drug testing technology. The collaboration took place through the EBRD’s EU-funded Innovation Programme in Lebanon, which helps startups and SMEs access research expertise, advisory support, and specialized innovation capacity. Through the programme, DLOC Biosystems worked with LAUIH to automate key manufacturing steps, optimize operations, and build more robust systems while maintaining control over its intellectual property. The startup is developing organ-on-chip and human-on-chip technologies that aim to better model human tissue environments and improve the reliability of preclinical drug testing. The EBRD article also noted that LAUIH has collaborated with the EBRD on more than 30 projects, reflecting the Hub’s role in bridging academia and industry through applied technical support, product development, consultancy, and student engagement. For LAUIH, the DLOC Biosystems collaboration reflects the value of its Industry Pod model: connecting partner needs with multidisciplinary expertise, professional supervision, and LAU talent to support complex technology development. The project also demonstrates how Lebanon-based engineering and research capacity can support high-value biotech innovation with international potential.