Woburn, MA Noted local inventor and entrepreneur Ben Bikson has launched a new high-tech startup in the local science and technology cluster. Avanpore, LLC will occupy 3,200 s/f of research and development space at 21 Olympia Ave., a Cummings Properties-managed building.

Avanpore develops separation solutions for continuous manufacture of pharmaceuticals. The startup is Bikson’s second high-tech venture in recent years. He has commercialized four technology platforms in the past.

 In 2005, Bikson founded PoroGen Corp., which manufactures molecular filtration membranes. The company first leased a small incubator lab with Cummings Properties in 2007, and has since grown to a 35,000 s/f operation in Cummings’ Cabot Rd. campus.

 PoroGen was acquired in 2015 by French-owned Air Liquide Advanced Technologies US LLC. Bikson stayed on as deputy vice president until striking off on his own to found Avanpore.

“I returned to Cummings with my latest venture because I know the real estate firm can support my company’s development at any stage,” said Bikson. “Experience has taught me that if I need to expand faster than anticipated, Cummings will find me a larger space to accommodate my growth.”

Cummings Properties key accounts manager Marc Knittle worked directly with Bikson on the lease.

“Finding an appropriately sized facility with existing lab infrastructure was important for an early-stage firm like Avanpore,” said Knittle. 

“Cummings has an established history of placing startups in spaces that provide them the opportunity to innovate and evolve without delay.”

Among Avanpore’s new neighbors are science and technology firms Agrivida, Covaris, Modular Genetics, Nantero, and Novarials.